Support for schools

All Surrey mainstream state schools and academy schools have free access to our Primary Mental Health Teams (PMHT). 

These teams support children, young people, parents and carers by helping identify and promote emotional wellbeing, building resilience and by preventing mental health issues such as low mood, depression and anxiety through a range of interventions. 

We also support schools through consultation, advice and signposting and training.​​​​​​  We do this working collaboratively with professionals across the education, health care and children's services. 

You can find out more about our Primary Mental Health Team here who are your first point of contact should you have concerns about the mental health or wellbeing of a child or young person at school.  Should a child be in crisis, please contact the 24 hour crisis line on 0800 915 4644.   There is also a short introductory film describing the service available for professionals below.

To find out more contact your school’s Primary Mental Health Worker directly or via the Children and Young People's Mindworks Community Team on the numbers below. 

Primary Mental Health Teams:

• North East team (covering East Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley)
• South East team (covering Tandridge, Reigate & Banstead)
• North West team (covering Ashford, Woking, Spelthorne, Runnymede, West Elmbridge)
• South West team (covering Surrey Heath, Guildford and Waverley)

To find out more about wellbeing, emotional wellbeing and mental health services for Surrey Schools please follow the links below:

• Healthy Surrey - Services for Surrey Schools
• Healthy Surrey - Taking a Surrey Healthy Schools Approach
• Surrey Education Services Hub    

Training

Among the services on offer, these organisations provide bespoke training for school staff to help them support children living with neurodevelopmental issues. Training provides staff with greater understanding of autism and ADHD, along with tools to help them manage better and increase their self-confidence.

At the heart of this new approach is the development of a shared understanding of an individual’s needs and strengths and using these to identify what support strategies might be needed to meet those needs in the best way.

• Autism Training for schools

• ADHD Awareness Training for schools

Advice and guidance

Among the wide-ranging services are:

• advice and guidance for children and families (online and through consultation and liaison with professionals)
• advice, consultation and training for professionals, diagnostic assessment and treatment where required
• risk management advice
• 1-1 and group sessions and family interventions.

Information and communication

Through using the new approach, the gathering of information will be based upon conversations, observations and feedback from family and classroom-based strategies. Our plan is to offer early support and, where diagnosis is needed,  the information already gathered will inform the assessment and ensure an integrated process.

Most of these services can be delivered at home or school, in a local hub or clinic, in a range of local community settings including village halls, youth centres, church halls, schools or GP surgeries, or virtually (via telephone or computer). Neurodevelopmental therapists will become more visible in local communities.

You can also signpost children and their families to Surrey Local Offer, the online hub for 0 to 25 year olds (and their families) with special educational needs or a disability.

To find out information on what to do if someone is experiencing a mental health and wellbeing crisis - visit crisis information.

Print off our crisis line poster to display in schools, classrooms and communal areas.