Buddy Bench Ireland: early intervention

Showing posts with label early intervention. Show all posts

Go Blue for Buddy Bench

We know funding can be an issue for many schools so we have devised this "Go Blue for Buddy Bench" to help raise funds for a Buddy Bench and the Buddy bench Aware programmes.

What does that mean?

It means that your school wants to become a place where children feel free, strong and comfortable in communicating how they feel to each other. The ask is that your child
Wears something blue on the designated day.

It’s their choice – jeans, jumper, club or county colours; wear a blue scarf, wear a blue bungee in their hair, they could even paint their face blue!

Donates €2
If at all possible from their own money box or does a chore because this is a child led initiative. All money raised goes towards your school’s fund for getting a Buddy Bench and the Buddy Bench Aware Programmes into your school, promoting friendship, kindness and emotional well-being for all.

How does it work?
The Buddy Bench, placed in the school yard or play area, can be used for children when they are new to the school, want to make new friends, their friends are not there on a particular day, they want to play something different from what their friends are playing, or they’re having a problem with their friends and just can’t solve it right now / want to take a break. Sitting on the bench lets everyone know you are feeling lonely, 'different', are being with your emotions and thoughts, and so others are free to check in with you and see if you're ok.

How do we know that children will understand how to use the Buddy Bench?
We don’t just leave a bench in your school yard and leave it at that. Buddy Bench Ireland will also be delivering the Buddy Bench Program in your school.

Tell me about the Buddy Bench Programme!
As well as the Buddy Bench, we deliver 3 age-appropriate workshops Little Buddies aged 3-6, Buddy Bench Aware aged 6-9 and You Are a Hero for aged 9-12+. Using a combination of story, puppet show, discussions, self-awareness techniques and role-play, our workshops teach children about feelings:

To Read More......

What they are, how they change, how to express themselves, and how to listen to others.

Through supporting core competencies of empathy, creativity, mindfulness and communication, we are empowering a generation of children to create a world where it’s OK – i.e. normal, natural, easy and fun - to express yourself.

Your child will also get a lovely Buddy Bench Activity Book with original illustrations and a comprehensive set of creative activities that teach tools for self-assessment, coping and developing language for feelings.

To download the resources needed

Click Here

Good Luck and we would love to see all your photos, email them us at hello@buddybench.ie there is prize !!!!!

How to Support Schools and Students Dealing with Loss

Schools

When there is a death in the school community the impact can be quite significant and every school should think about having a critical incident management plan which will help them take the appropriate steps when a sudden tragedy occurs.

Deaths and other incidents do happen in all communities some having a greater effect in schools. Ideally they should be prepared with a well- developed plan and have a team in place with clearly defined roles.

If a death does occur, schools should often have also consider seeking external support. Thus the need for our "Dealing with Loss" add-on to our programmes which can be tailor made to each school. Read More

This will vary between schools and there may be clear protocols and policies about the action to take when a death occurs in the school community.

Often both staff and children are impacted by a death of a community member, parent or pupil and it can help to have somebody with training and some distance who can ‘walk beside’ the staff to plan and implement the response.

Action Plan

Don’t jump to conclusions or react too quickly – take a planned approach (with a team) to gathering and confirming information firstly, work with the family to plan what and how information can be shared.

Staff shouldn’t share information with students in large groups – instead, after permission has been granted, they should consider how to tailor delivery of information.

This might mean sharing of information to individuals or small groups (for those closest to the person who died) as well as in classroom groups.

Supporting the teacher with this task is important. This enables pupils and staff to take in the information, ask questions and express feelings in a familiar and safe environment.

The response that is best in the period immediately after an incident or death is Psychological First Aid, which recognises that people benefit from some support, information and connection with each other but that most people will recover well from incidents such as a death in the school community.

Students

Grief may be an unavoidable part of life but it can have a huge impact on students as well as their ability to learn – here, one community psychologist offers her advice on helping kids through it.

We know that if a child is experiencing difficulties with emotions their learning will be impacted so school staff are very aware of these links and see their role as being about the whole child – which includes how they are feeling.

In our workshops we are having conversations with children about how they feel. A child who is sad or grieving will hopefully feel comfortable to share that with their teacher.

For those who aren’t able to be so open, there are some common signs to look out for which may indicate a child is struggling – however, she these will vary depending on age, cultural background and personality.

Typical behaviours can include crying, showing signs of anxiety, becoming easily upset, irritable or angry when they usually wouldn’t, being extra clingy to parents/carers or siblings, losing interest in school work or activities, regressing behaviours where the child acts younger than they usually do. As teachers get to know children very well, they will often notice that something the child is doing is out of character for them.

Ways Staff Can Support their Students

Noticing that the child is showing some changes or signs that something is wrong if the first step, then “checking in” to open the door to a conversation.
Listen when the child wants to talk
Protect the child’s privacy by not talking in front of other children
Problem solve with the child about what will help at school. For example, a child who is grieving may want to have a picture or photo on their table or have some quiet time to draw or write about their feelings when they’re feeling sad or upset.
Be ready to check in with the family and work together.
If the child is continuing to be upset over time and efforts to support him or her aren’t making a difference, be mindful of the limits of your role and consider when to talk with parents and the school wellbeing person about a possible referral for specialist support
Take care of yourself too – hearing sad stories and seeing a child who is upset can be distressing and sometimes remind staff members of their own losses.

What Not to Do

Certainly not to dismiss the signs or hope the child will “get over it” – it’s important that children feel heard and understood.
On the other extreme, don’t over-react to a child who is distressed or their behaviours related to distress. Listen to understand what behaviours might mean and problem solve together with the child and family so that they see that feelings are normal and the school will support them.

If your school wishes to avail of our Dealing with Loss programme, email hello@buddybench.ie or call us on 056 7702027.

How to Spot Depression in Children and Where to Get Help

Buddy Bench

It is one of the hardest things for a parent to cope with - to see your child suffering from mental health problems, with no real idea what has gone wrong or how you can help them.

Signs of mental health problems in teenagers and children are sometimes dismissed as angst, but a recent UK Government-funded survey has revealed why we should be taking the issue much more seriously.

At the age of 14, a quarter of girls and one in 10 boys show signs of depression, researchers from UCL Institute of Education and the University of Liverpool found. The causes include stress, body image issues, bullying and social media pressure – all of which are typically experienced by teenagers and children in day-to-day life and may have a greater effect than you think.

Those from poorer or mixed ethnic backgrounds have a greater risk of showing signs, the survey of more than 10,000 children taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study found, while girls are more likely to suffer than boys.

Emma Saddleton, helpline manager at children’s mental health charity Young Minds, says: “Most young people experience ups and down during their teenage years and occasionally will feel down or upset by things going on in their lives. They might be adapting to a change in their family or school life, or just trying out new emotions, and will generally grow out of worrying behaviour.

“But some young people feel sad, lonely, down, anxious or stressed for longer periods of time to the extent that it can affect their everyday lives and can prevent that young person from doing things they would normally do.”

For early intervention, you should look out for the following signs:

1. A lack of motivation or interest

One sign of depression is a severe lack of motivation. This might come in the form of caring very little about their grades, showing little interest in hobbies, or even going out to see friends. Make note of what they’ve been enthusiastic about before, but may not be now.

2. A feeling of intolerance or irritation

Intolerance or irritation can be shown in a few different ways. They might cope by snapping or causing arguments more often than usual. Perhaps they’ve suddenly shown a sudden dislike to something or someone for seemingly no reason or frustration builds much quicker than it used to.

3. A feeling of hopelessness or helplessness

Look out for indications of helplessness in the things your child or teen says. They might think that nothing they can do will help improve their grades or improve relationships with friends. In some cases, they may become more reckless when thinking their actions no longer have consequences.

4. Lack of self-esteem

A lack of self-esteem can be evident in small actions that might be mistaken for typical teenage habits. Your teen might fret a lot over their outfits or appearance, constantly going back in to their room to change. They might worry over small outings such as going over to the shop for a pint of milk or meeting family friends.

5. Difficulty in making decisions

Although many people have trouble with making decisions, in an extreme case, this could be a sign of depression. Look out for signs of becoming easily frustrated or tearful when faced with a choice or decision.

6. They are no longer finding enjoyment in life

If your child or teen lacks excitement for things they would have previously enjoyed for a long period of time, this could be a strong indicator of depression. They might not care for an upcoming party or a meal they love. Become aware of how often they smile or laugh when watching TV or scrolling through their phones.

7. Changes in patterns of life

Other signs that may be easier to spot include changes in eating and sleeping habits. If your child or teen is eating or sleeping significantly more or less, it might be time to take the symptoms more seriously.

Useful Websites for Young People

Al-Teen - 01 8732 699
Anti-Bullying Centre, Trinity College Dublin
CARI (helpline for children and families affected by sexual abuse) - 1890 924567 / 01 8308529
Cura (pregnancy counselling service) - 1850 622 626
Drugs / HIV Helpline - 1800 459 459
Gay Switchboard - 01 8721 055
Headstrong - Changing how Ireland thinks about young people's mental health through Jigsaw, Research and Advocacy.
INSPIRE (Ireland)
OCD Ireland
Rape Crisis Centre - 1800 778 888 / 01 6614 911
Samaritans - 1850 60 90 90
Shine (Schizophrenia Ireland) - 01 8601 620
www.yourmentalhealth.ie aims to improve awareness and understanding of mental health in Ireland.
www.belongto.org is an organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people.
www.barnardos.ie/teenhelp is somewhere where teens can go to for help and advice, as part of Barnardos mission to make Ireland a better place to be a child.
www.bodywhys.ie is a national voluntary organisation providing a range of services for people affected by eating disorders
www.omcya.ie is the web site of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
www.pleasetalk.ie is a website which provides details of the support services available to students on college and university campuses.
www.seechange.ie is Ireland's national partnership to reduce stigma and challenge discrimination associated with mental health problems. See Change are an alliance of organisations working together to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems.
www.headstrong.ie is a national organisation working with communities to ensure that young people are better supported to achieve mental health and well being
www.reachout.com a support service for young people going through a tough time with information on the issues that matter to young people, signposts to other services and the opportunity to join a supportive online, mental health community
www.aware.ie is a national voluntary organisation providing support through depression
www.shine.ie is the national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by enduring mental illness including, but not exclusively; schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and bi-polar disorder
www.grow.ie helps people who have suffered, or are suffering from mental health problems
www.mentalhealthireland.ie is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote mental health and support persons with a mental illness

https://www.jigsaw.ie/jigsaw-services/get-in-touch/

https://www.shine.ie/contact/

http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/teens/

Buddy Bench Aware Programme 7yrs - 9yrs

Churchhill NS Kilkenn

Buddy Bench Aware 7yrs - 9yrs

The school environment can be very stressful; in addition to any issues children bring from home, many struggle with a sense of their own difference and start to feel pressure to perform well in class.

Exclusion, isolation or fears of being left behind are very painful for any child, so we have built our Buddy Bench Aware Program around teaching self-awareness, friendship, empathy and self-expression, using the Buddy Bench as a visual aid.

The Workshop

"Look Up, Look Around and Look Out for Each Other”

Emotions v Feelings

What do emotions feel like and look like?

How can you tell what you’re feeling?

All people have feelings. Feelings help us learn about ourselves and others. All emotions are natural, so kids shouldn’t feel bad about experiencing them.

Through role play, our teaching story, discussion and self-awareness exercises, our facilitators help children reflect on their emotions, which sometimes feel overwhelming, and give simple tools for changing their relationship to their feelings. We teach them to cultivate a kinder attitude to themselves and each other, demonstrating differences in body language, and cultivating skills for mutually supportive communication.

Learning to strengthen attention and regulate emotions are foundational skills that could benefit children in school and throughout their whole lives.

Each child receives a copy of our beautifully illustrated interactive workbook featuring teaching story and creative activities that give opportunities for developing a vocabulary around feelings, and a positive attitude about asking for help.

You can read along and join in the questions too!

The feedback from our programmes is very promising – we are currently completing an evaluation with the Mental Health Social Research Unit at NUI Maynooth. According to teachers’ ratings, children show more empathy and kindness and a greater ability to calm themselves down when they feel upset. Their social and emotional development has improved, the children showed improvement in the ability to think flexibly, and had cultivated the life skills that have been linked to health and success in later life.

You are our Heros

Combined with the Buddy Bench as a visual tool in times of distress, the children were able to find comfort and support through each other rather than feeling upset and worried. It’s these small changes, spread across classrooms, that could make society more kind—and educate a new generation of more compassionate and connected adults.

To book us to come to your school and deliver any of our programmes email:hello@buddybench.ie

or call us on (0560 7702027

You are a Hero Programme 10yrs - 12+yrs

Happy Hub Cork City

You are a Hero Age 10yrs - 12+yrs

The school environment can be stressful; in addition to any issues children bring from home, as children grow older they become extremely sensitive to their place in peer groups. At the same time, a greater awareness of the larger world around them can cause children to become vulnerable to anxiety.

At this age, friendships are key to a child’s self image, and the responsibility of becoming a role model to younger children in the school can bring out the best in the senior classes in a school.

The Workshop
You are a Hero!
Friendship: How can you be a good friend to others?

You can’t be there for others if you don’t take care of yourself first!

Children are extraordinarily observant, and as they move outward into the world they want to take responsibility for their own wellbeing and that of other people, animals, the environment and so on.

Through discussion and role-play we introduce the idea that a real hero has self-awareness, can understand their own feelings and cultivate positive habits of thought, cares for their own mental health, knows their own strengths and develops skills to match, asks friends how they are doing, and knows how to listen well.
The You are a Hero! Activity Book gives tools for personal and social resilience, and invites children to become members of our Hero Club, ambassadors for friendship and self-fulfilment as they move towards adolescence.

"There is a page in the back of this workbook we ask the children to fill in and send back to us to receive their You are a Hero badge and a to be chance of winning a bigger prize, this can be done on an individual basis or as a class project. We want to hear the children's' voices we need their feedback."

The feedback from our programmes is very promising – we are currently completing an evaluation with the Mental Health Social Research Unit at NUI Maynooth. According to teachers’ ratings, children show more empathy and kindness and a greater ability to calm themselves down when they feel upset. Their social and emotional development has improved, the children showed improvement in the ability to think flexibly, and had cultivated the life skills that have been linked to health and success in later life.

Combined with the Buddy Bench as a visual tool in times of distress, the children were able to find comfort and support through each other rather than feeling upset and worried. It’s these small changes, spread across classrooms, that could make society more kind—and educate a new generation of more compassionate and connected adults.

In this workshop we ask that there be a small number of pre-chosen Buddy Ambassadors chosen from 6th class approx. 2 per hundred other students in the school., they can alternate. Their role will be to look after the younger children and monitor the Buddy Bench is being used correctly (within reason). Through our own internal evaluation we have found the more responsibility the children are given the better the outcomes.

To book us to come to your school and deliver any of our programmes email: hello@buddybench.ie

or call us on (0560 7702027

Why We Need To Make Mental Health Complusory in All Schools

Friendship & Empathy being key

Schools are where children and young people spend most of their day. It’s where friendships happen and where relationships form. It’s where they find their self-worth – in popularity, in sports, in achievements.
And it’s where mental health issues can become obvious – and exacerbated.
Every child will invariably have to deal with stress. It’s likely they’ll also encounter social exclusion, conflicts, or bullying at some stage throughout their lives.

Little Buddies Programme

It’s incredibly important that schools and parents are working together to prove the coping skills needed to live a hapy health life. It is vital that educating children and young people about mental health as a whole.

There’s a growing emphasis on schools providing mental health support. But in the majority of cases, this comes in the form of support only for children who directly ask for it.

Are we accepting that mental health is as important a part of life as physical health.?
PE lessons are compulsory in schools, because we view physical health as a crucial thing our children need to know about. We teach them about eating healthily, staying fit.

But are we ignoring the mental side of things – and can then lead to the extreme situation were they feel so lost and unable to get help.

Everyone has mental health. Mental health is something that everyone will have to deal with at some point in their life, whether in terms of getting help with mental well-being, helping someone else, or dealing with stressful moments and challenges.

Schools need to be portraying mental health as equally important and crucial as physical health (because it is) – and that starts with making mental health education a compulsory part of education across all schools.

Temple Street Children’s University Hospital's Report

The finding is based on an analysis of the initial assessment forms of 111 children attending the family-based W82GO service at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin.

It found that 12% of the children who were bullied were missing days from school. Almost half of those teased were teased by their peers, although a small percentage (2%) were teased by strangers.

Temple Street started its obesity service for children in 2004 and the following year set up the W82GO programme that is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes a paediatrician, dietitian, nurse, chartered physiotherapist, and clinical psychologist.

Dr Samantha Doyle, a paediatrician and a member of the W82GO Healthy Lifestyles Programme team, said their analysis revealed a high proportion of emotional and behavioural problems along with bullying.

About 5% of the children were under five years of age, and the average age at initial consultation was around 10 years.

A third (33%) of the children were experiencing emotional difficulties but just under half (46%) were linked to mental health services before starting the programme.

The initial assessment also showed that 26% had behavioural difficulties, with just over half (52%) already attending a mental health service.

Almost a third (30%) of parents said their children had learning difficulties, a figure that is well above the National Council for Special Needs Education estimated prevalence rates of 23% in 2011.

It also emerged that 15% of the children needed some intervention for development delay.
While the degree of developmental delay varied, speech and autistic spectrum disorder made up a large proportion of the difficulties.

The study, published in the latest issue of the Irish Medical Journal, points out that the findings are in contrast to the data collected by The Growing Up in Ireland study, published in 2011.

It showed that most of the nine-year-old children analysed were developing without emotional problems, with 15% to 20% in difficulty.

Early Intervention being Key

Children should learn about mental health from a young age, and wellbeing should also be a fundamental priority in every aspect of the education system. Schools are critical in helping prevent mental health problems escalating, in building wellbeing and resilience and helping young people learn the skills they need to cope in today’s world.’

Lessons need to discuss mental health as something we all have to work on, teaching children relevant skills such as dealing with stress and change, understanding their own moods and thoughts, and recognising when to ask for help.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if all schools were discussing mental health, breaking down stigma and misconceptions, explaining treatment options, showing young people that there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with struggling – that they’re not weak, or stupid, or failing because they’re finding things difficult – and creating an environment where students actually feel able to not only recognise when they’re dealing with mental health issues, but to ask for help, too.

It’s not just about tackling children’s mental health issues. It’s about equipping them for adult life.

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