Health and Wellbeing, Anxiety Based School Avoidance

Anxiety Support for Children, Young People and their families

Since the return to school during COVID-19, there has been a significant increase in conversations about anxiety and the impact it is having on children and young people. Education staff have observed a change in the Mental Health and Wellbeing of children and young people with significant concerns revolving around school-based, social and general anxiety.

Following discussion with some North Ayrshire schools, it has been reported that staff – particularly pastoral and SLT – are receiving more calls from parents and carers about the increased anxiety they are seeing in their children at home and their worry about how best to support their emotional wellbeing and manage the worry they are experiencing themselves.

To this end, the psychological service, alongside our Mental Health and Wellbeing operational leads and our principal teachers of nurture, have developed some resources to support children and young people and their families.

• Leaflet for parents (8.2Mb, pdf)
• Leaflet for children and young people (5Mb, pdf)
• Anxiety and Building Resilience Professional Learning (Powerpoint, 11Mb)
• Useful Apps from the NHS
• Curricular Resources
• Anxiety Research Spotlight

Scan the QR code to watch our short video about anxiety and building resilience.

You can also access useful resources by scanning this code.

Children and young people can scan this code to watch a video with some useful hints and tips that will help.

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