Who are the Mental Health Support Team (MHST)?
The Mental Health Support Team aim to provide compassionate and practical support for families with a child experiencing anxiety, while also working collaboratively with schools to promote positive mental health and wellbeing across the whole school community.
As part of this effort, the MHST offer early intervention for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health needs. MHSTs operate within schools and colleges, delivering evidence-based support such as low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group sessions, and wellbeing workshops. They also help schools develop a whole-school approach to mental health, offering training and guidance to staff and acting as a bridge between education and specialist mental health services.
How MHST Support Families
The MHST work focuses on empowering parents with practical, evidence-based strategies to support their child in managing anxiety. Over the course of 6–8 sessions, they teach cognitive behavioural techniques that parents can use at home to help their child overcome anxious thoughts and behaviours.
These sessions are delivered either one-to-one with a trained mental health practitioner or in a supportive group setting with other parents. Each session includes time for reflection, allowing families to explore what approaches work best for them. They guide parents in adapting strategies to suit their child’s needs and provide opportunities for real-life practice, helping to build confidence and resilience in both the parent and the child.
Getting Support
If you think your family might benefit from this support, please speak to someone at school who knows your child well—such as their teacher, Mrs Leslie – SENCO, or Mrs Dalton – the Student and Family Support Worker. The school can then contact a member of the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to discuss a possible referral. Together, we can explore the most appropriate ways to support your child, whether through direct sessions or by working with school staff to meet their needs within the school environment.
