Free e-learning available for young people’s mental health and wellbeing

The Just Talk campaign coordinated by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), is encouraging students across all age groups to complete its Five Ways to Wellbeing e-learning module. The aim is to ‘help’ young people consider ‘how they and others are feeling,’ as well as improving ‘their mood.’

More than 800 young people have ‘benefited’ from the initiative, since it launched last November. Just Talk along with its partners are working together to promote the five steps, as ‘an everyday practice for children and young people’ throughout Hertfordshire.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing were developed by the New Economics Foundation after the government’s futures think-tank, Foresight, commissioned research as part of their 2008 Mental Capital and Wellbeing project. They are based upon ‘a set of evidence-based public mental health messages,’ geared towards ‘improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole population.’ The ‘five ways’ comprise of:

• Notice
• Learn
• Give
• Be active
• Connect

Furthermore, the e-learning session includes separate modules for primary and secondary school students, which take around 20 minutes to complete. The Five Ways to Wellbeing are explained clearly within each component. There are ‘suggestions for how to support good mental health.’ It also highlights how ‘doing enjoyable activities’ regularly, can ‘help’ to ‘improve’ young people’s ‘overall’ wellbeing. This involves staying active, keeping in ‘touch with’ or ‘helping others, learning new things and being aware of what is happening around us.’

Parents and teachers of KS2 primary school children can incorporate the session within the framework of online teaching, while secondary school pupils might be ‘comfortable completing the module independently.’ A printable checklist is available for primary school children, alongside an interactive journal for secondary students.

HCC’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Prevention, Councillor Tim Hutchings, said:

“The routine of going to school for most young people, is being disrupted again following the latest coronavirus restrictions, making this an ideal time to create some healthy new routines at home. These e-learning sessions encourage young people to think about some easy things they can do to boost their wellbeing, so I’d urge everyone to help spread the word about the modules and encourage young people in Hertfordshire to take a look.”

Just Talk is an inter-agency initiative ‘steered by young people.’ The campaign ‘encourages’ Hertfordshire’s youth ‘to show strength through talking about their mental health.’ The website offers a range of free resources for young people, children, their parents as well as schools and professionals. It also provides details for who to contact if further mental health support is needed.

To find out more about the modules visit:  

https://www.justtalkherts.org/young-people/young-people-looking-after-your-mental-health.aspx#Fivewaystowellbeing
 

You can also follow the campaign on social media for useful tips, in addition to updates on young people’s health and wellbeing in Hertfordshire. The Just Talk social feeds are:

Facebook: JustTalkHerts

Instagram: @JustTalkHerts

Twitter: @JustTalkHerts