Question 1

Are your programmes designed for whole class use or for interventions?

Accepted Answer

Our programmes are versatile. They are skills-based and are designed for use either as small group interventions or for whole class sessions. With minimal adaptation, they can also be used for individual one-to-one interventions ('Talking Partners' are regularly mentioned - however, the student can just as easily discuss their thoughts with the adult delivering the programme). For maximal impact and efficacy for your entire school community, our programmes would ideally be implemented for the whole class and for multiple year groups across your school setting.

Question 2

What types of content / media do your programmes include?

Accepted Answer

Our programmes for students include comprehensive PowerPoints with audio instruction, as well as PDFs of lesson plans, posters, worksheets and homework. Some of the PowerPoint presentations incorporate brief animated video/GIF content.
Our Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme is mostly video based, with accompanying PDF handouts.

Question 3

Which psychotherapeutic approaches are your programmes based on?

Accepted Answer

Our programmes are written using the following evidence-based approaches: Mindfulness, CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy).

Question 4

How are your programmes differentiated?

Accepted Answer

Our programmes for students feature a combination of differentiation by task, support, outcome and extension. Some of the homework is differentiated by task.

Question 5

Do you offer in-person or virtual training sessions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do! On request, we can provide training sessions for school staff about pupil and staff mental health and wellbeing. For example, we recently led an online workshop about child and staff mental health for an academy trust in England, including background information and a range of practical strategies and resources:
'I wholeheartedly recommend Ava Shabnum Hasan and her team at Mentally Well Schools. In our preparation for the return of the rest of our pupils we had an excellent workshop for our team, supporting them in recognising and addressing signs of poor mental health in our children and in ourselves.' Cori Bateman (CEO/Executive Headteacher/NLE/NPQEL, Pioneer Learning Trust)
Darryl also holds DBT STEPS-A (Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents) training sessions for teachers, certifying them to deliver this evidence-based mental health skills programme to primary and secondary age students. See our Training and Consultancy page.
Our overarching aim has always been to write and offer as much online/virtual content as possible in the form of our online programmes, so that we can positively impact the mental health of school communities as far and wide as possible without travel being a limitation. 🙂

Question 6

Can I get a sample?

Accepted Answer

You sure can! Follow the links below to receive a FREE sample of several lessons from each of our current programmes: Claim your Free sample of 3 lessons from our Ages 7-13 Mental Health Skills Programme &/or your Free sample of 2 lessons from our COVID Worry & Wellbeing Programme (ages 6-12 approx.). You can also view a sample of our Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme. You'll receive an emailed download link to claim your sample programme content.

Question 7

Will I get immediate access to all programme content when I subscribe?

Accepted Answer

Our content is drip-fed. Upon purchasing your subscription you will receive access to the first few weeks of each available programme. After 30 days, you'll receive access to the remaining weeks of content within each programme.

Question 8

Which member(s) of staff should deliver your programmes?

Accepted Answer

We recommend that our programmes are delivered either by a teacher (class teacher, SEN/intervention teacher or SENDCo) or an HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) ideally with some training in mental health. It's important that whoever delivers the programmes follows the guidelines we provide (all our programmes have comprehensive lesson plans and all resources are provided) and that they are able to maintain a non-judgmental approach during the sessions they deliver. Rest assured, we will be here to support your staff with the implementation of our programmes. If they have any questions, they can ask in our Online Community Forum, where our team is regularly on hand to offer advice and guidance about our programme content.

Question 9

What if I have a question while teaching a programme?

Accepted Answer

If you have a question, you can post in our Online Community Forum, which is where questions can get answered by members of our team, as well as by other community members. We are regularly in the Online Community Forum to answer questions and offer advice. Rest assured, we're here to support you with the implementation of our programmes in your setting 🙂

Question 10

Do you offer Free Resources?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do! Please check out our Free Resources page Most of our free resources are taken from our fully planned paid programmes which we have written ourselves based on proven psychotherapeutic approaches. A few of our free resources are curated from elsewhere.

Question 11

Are your resources / programmes a substitute for face to face counselling or psychotherapy sessions?

Accepted Answer

No. Our resources and programmes are designed to help teach children, young people and staff in schools a range of evidence-based psychotherapeutic skills which have been shown in numerous studies to benefit mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Our materials are designed as a more general PSHE type resource or for targeted interventions with children about whom you have SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) concerns. However, the resources, programmes and service we offer are not intended as a substitute for counselling / psychotherapy sessions, nor for an assessment with an Educational Psychologist; nor are they a substitute for any other individual interventions by a trained mental health professional.

Question 12

What do you offer for Staff mental health?

Accepted Answer

We've already begun writing our online Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing Programme, as we think it's a priority for our school systems to better support teacher mental health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, we offer a FREE weekly mental health and wellbeing tip for staff delivered to your email inbox! In addition, our Free Resources include several ideas which are helpful for staff mental health. Also check out our blog for articles we've written about teacher/staff mental health!

Question 13

Do you cater for Primary and Secondary schools?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we do, although our materials are more geared to Primary level and lower Secondary at this time. Currently, we offer our fully planned COVID Worry & Wellbeing Programme (for ages 6-14), and our Ages 7-13 Mental Health Skills programme. In addition, we offer a free weekly mental health tip via email for all teachers/staff (primary and secondary school settings).
Darryl also leads face-to-face training sessions for secondary school staff based on the successful DBT STEPS-A Programme (Skills Training for Emotional Problem-Solving for Adolescents) which was developed in the United States to positively impact adolescent mental health and wellbeing.

Question 14

What Subscription Plans / Pricing do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer several membership options, which give you full access to our growing library of programmes. There are Individual and School subscriptions, with the latter based on the number of school staff who will be using our resources and programmes in your setting. We offer monthly and annual payment options, as well as Purchase Order payment for annual or bespoke orders made by schools. We're also currently offering your 1st month FREE on all our subscriptions, with the option to cancel anytime.
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