Who are we?
Our West Essex, Children and Young People Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are here to support many education settings in Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford.
We help to promote positive mental health within primary, secondary and higher education settings within these areas. Our MHST service, which started in 2019, is part of the Government’s Green Paper initiative; ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision’.
What do we do?
We are an ‘early intervention’ service working with children and young people with mild to moderate difficulties. For any issues that we can’t work with, we will discuss with you the most appropriate options for support.
The support that we offer is based on Low Intensity CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). We are not a counselling service, but again, we would offer suggestions for appropriate services if these will be a better option.
Primary Schools:
In primary schools we focus on child anxiety or challenging behaviour which is seen mostly outside the school environment. This work is carried out with the parent/caregiver. These interventions are for ages 4-11. Please note, we do not work with children individually, only parents.
In collaboration with schools, we deliver a variety of groups/workshops to whole classes and small groups of children. Groups such as:
- Brain Buddies course for years 4, 5 and 6. Brain Buddies is an emotional regulation course which teaches children to recognise emotions and develop skills to tackle big feelings in their lives.
- Emotion Explorers for years 1 and 2. This is similar to Brain Buddies but the content is suitable for young children
- Friendship Group, this is for year 2 upwards and looks at how to start and maintain healthy, respectful relationships.
Secondary Schools/Colleges:
In secondary schools and colleges we focus on adolescent anxiety and low mood and we work directly with the young person.
We also deliver a variety of groups that help students understand and manage their emotions. We work with schools to deliver the groups they see as being most beneficial for their students.
How can I access your service?
We have teams working across Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford Districts.
Each team is commissioned to work with a limited number of education settings and we can ONLY accept referrals if your child attends a school signed up to the MHST programme.
Please speak to the Mental Health Lead in your setting as they will also be able to make a referral for you. Schools we are in partnership with are:
Epping Forest - Primary
- Chipping Ongar Primary School
- Coopersale and Theydon Garnon CofE Primary School
- Dr Walkers CofE Primary School
- Epping Forest Primary
- Hereward Primary School
- High Beech CofE Primary School
- High Ongar Primary School
- Hillhouse CofE Primary School
- Ivy Chimney’s primary School
- Leverton Primary School
- Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery
- Limes Farm Junior School
- Matching Green Primary School
- Nazeing Primary School
- Ongar primary School
- Roydon Primary School
- St Andrews Primary School
- St Johns CofE Primary School
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
- Stapleford Abbotts Primary School
- Staples Primary School
- The Alderton Junior School
- Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery
- Upshire Primary Foundation School
- Waltham Holy Cross Primary School
- White Bridge Primary School
Epping Forest - Secondary
- Davenant Foundation School
- Debden Park High School
- Epping St John’s CofE School
- King Harold Business & Enterprise Academy
- New City College
- Roding Valley High School
- The Ongar Academy
- West Hatch High School
Harlow - Primary
- Abbotsweld Primary School
- Churchgate CofE Primary School
- The Downs Primary School
- Fawbert & Barnard Primary School
- Freshwaters Academy
- Hare Street Community Primary School & Nursery
- Henry Moore Primary School
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary Academy
- Jerounds Primary Academy
- Katherines Academy
- Kingsmoor Academy
- Little Parndon Primary Academy
- Longwood Primary Academy
- Milwards Primary School
- Newhall Primary School
- Potter Street Academy
- Purford Green Primary School
- St Albans Primary School
- St. James’ CofE Primary School
- St Luke’s Primary School
- Pear Tree Mead Academy
- Pemberley Academy
- Tanys Dell Primary School
- Waterlane Primary Academy
- William Martin CofE Junior, Infant and Nursery School
Harlow - Secondary
- BMAT Stem Academy
- Passmores Academy
- Sir Frederick Gibberd College
- St Marks West Essex Catholic School
- Stewards Academy
- Burnt Mill Academy
- Harlow College
- Mark Hall Academy
Uttlesford - Primary
- Chrishall Primary School
- Clavering Primary School
- Debden CofE Primary Academy
- Dunmow St Marys Primary School
- Elsenham Primary
- Felsted Primary School
- Great Chesterford CoE Primary Academy
- Hatfield Heath Primary School
- Henham & Ugley Primary and Nursery School
- Katherine Semar Infant and Junior Schools (SW)
- Magna Carta Primary Academy (Stansted)
- Manuden Primary School
- Newport Primary School (Newport)
- R A Butler Primary School
- Rickling Primary School
- Rose Acres (Takeley)
- St Mary’s CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School(SW)
- St Marys CofE Foundation Primary School (Stansted)
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School (SW)
- Thaxted Primary School
Uttlesford - Secondary
- Saffron Walden County High School
- Joyce Frankland Academy Newport
- Helena Romanes School
- Forest Hall School Stansted
More information
If you would like more information, then please email the team at:
mhstadmin@mindinwestessex.org.uk
Meet the staff – click the link to access your local Mental Health Support Team’s details.
