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This newsletter is for everyone working with children and adults in Waltham Forest.
Please share with your colleagues and encourage them to sign up to get it regularly.
This Spotlight focuses on support for mental health, as children's emotional wellbeing is a safeguarding priority for the Strategic Partnerships.
World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October. The World Mental Health Day theme for 2023 is ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’.
Mental health issues impact many communities differently, depending on their economic status, race, gender, sexuality, and age. 2022 report 'A Fairer and Happier Waltham Forest', shows premature mortality in adults with severe mental illness in Waltham Forest and its nearest statistical neighbours.
It has also been reported that 58 per cent of people receiving benefits reported poor mental health, and that 16 per cent of young people reported mental health problems.
World Mental Health Day – otherwise known as Mental Health Awareness Day – is the global celebration of mental health support, education, and services. This important awareness day advocates for mental health-related issues and aims to tackle the stigma that limits people's willingness to seek help.
This Spotlight aims to raise awareness of mental health services and highlight support available for residents struggling with their mental health.
We are holding a drop-in service for members of the public based at the Leytonstone Library on Tuesday 10 October 2023 between 1 and 5pm, where will have four displays and representation from the following services:
- Talking Therapies (formally called IAPT)
- Perinatal Service
- Older Adult and Memory Services
- Mental Health Wellness Services
- Early Intervention Psychosis Service
- Learning Disability Service
- Children's Mental Health Services
Staff representation from all the services mentioned will be at hand on the day and will provide information about the mental health services available in the borough.
Walthamstow Wetlands Guided Walk: Wetlands, 11am to 3pm
Residents are invited to join the Wildlife Trust for a gentle stroll around the Wetlands, to learn about the importance of nature for mental wellbeing and mindfulness techniques.
It is important for young men to access mental health support and resources as early as possible when they are struggling with their early life. These issues typically begin in early adulthood and can have a negative effect on education and employment.
Did you know that:
Good Thinking is a digital service that can help residents look after their mental health and wellbeing. The service can help tackle anxiety, stress, low mood sleep problems and other concerns.
Kooth provides free online mental health and wellbeing support to young people in Waltham Forest aged 11 to 25-years-old. Young people can register anonymously and access online counselling 365 days a year, digital magazines, wellbeing activities, and connect with other young people.
Professional counsellors are also available for one-to-one chat sessions from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays and 6pm until 10pm on weekends.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) helpline and webchat are open 365 days a year, offering practical suggestions for all of life’s problems - whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts. CALM staff answer a call every 59 seconds - they listen, talk and help people struggling with life to make a plan so they can begin to look to the future.
For urgent Mental Health support, a local NHS mental health support helpline provides 24 hour advice and support – Waltham Forest residents can dial 0800 995 1000.
Many residents are feeling worried about their finances, which causes them a lot of anxiety.
If a resident is struggling to make ends meet at this time and needs extra support during this difficult time, they can seek help with this.
The London Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) delivering free safeguarding training programme to the London public and voluntary sectors:
Adultification Training Session delivered by LSCP:
The LSCP are pleased to offer four Adultification training sessions free of charge to the voluntary and public sector within London.
Adultification forms a key part of the Waltham Forest Safeguarding Children Board’s priority Safeguarding Children Outside the Home so this training would be invaluable to those working with children and young people. There are limited spaces available and the sessions will run on the following dates:
- Thursday 23 November 2023, 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Thursday 2 February 2024, 9.30am to 12.30pm
- Friday 5 March 2024, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Email Strategicpartnerships@walthamforest.gov.uk to register for these free sessions.
Book home fire safety visit for vulnerable residents
London Fire Brigade triage referrals 24 hours a day and categorise them from very high risk category, which receive a four-hour response, and high risk category referrals receiving a four-day response.
Please call 24/7 phone number to refer residents in need of a home fire safety visit: 0800 028 4428.
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This newsletter is brought to you by the Strategic Partnership Boards, which is made up of Waltham Forest Safeguarding Children’s Board, Safeguarding Adults Board, Health & Wellbeing Board and SafetyNet (our Community Safety Partnership).
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