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Suffolk Local Offer

Mental Health Support Teams in schools

Supporting children and young people, their families, and education settings for mental health difficulties.

The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is an early-intervention service that supports children and young people, their families and school/college communities with mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Each MHST will be allocated to specific secondary schools/colleges and their feeder primary schools in Suffolk.

Working directly in schools, on site, and in the wider school/college community, both in and out of term time.

The MHSTs have a range of professionals including clinical lead, clinical team managers, psychological therapists, senior education mental health practitioners and education mental health practitioners (EMHPs).

The MHST can support with:

  • Anxiety and/or avoidance
  • Worry management
  • Panic management
  • Mild OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
  • Behavioural difficulties
  • Low mood / depression
  • Managing negative thoughts
  • Irritability as a symptom of depression
  • Thoughts of self-harm and support for alternative coping strategies for superficial self-harm
  • Low confidence and low self-esteem
  • Sleep difficulties

What does your MHST offer with a whole school/college approach?

  • Consultancy with specialist mental health team
  • Support for senior leadership teams, mental health leads, pastoral teams and all school/college staff with the mental health and wellbeing curriculum and development
  • Facilitation of therapeutic peer support groups for pupils/students/staff and parents
  • Signposting and connection for the school/college community with other mental health services and organisations
  • Support and promotion of the development of a school/college culture that values mental health

Contact your MHST

For all teams, please call 01284 733234, or email: