Emotional distress affects children, young people and school communities. This may include mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviours, suicidal ideation and suicide. These issues have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of children and young people, including their educational, developmental and wellbeing outcomes. Staff often report feeling overwhelmed to respond to students presenting with mental health concerns.
SAFEMinds is a professional learning package for primary and secondary school staff that is underpinned by the NIP it in the bud! (Notice, Inquire, Plan) early intervention approach.
NIP it in the bud! provides a whole school approach to recognising and responding to the early warning signs of depression, anxiety and emotional distress communicated through self-harm. It is founded on a range of evidence informed child and adolescent mental health resources, and aims to provide schools and families with information and an approach to optimise wellbeing and minimise risks for children and young people within the school setting.
SAFEMinds provides schools with access to facilitated training and a comprehensive learning package that will assist staff to develop the skills and confidence to effectively identify, respond, support and refer school students with mental health concerns.
SAFEMinds: In Practice equips school staff to become ‘Champions’ in the use of the NIP it in the bud! early intervention approach, the SAFEMinds Toolkit resources as well as SAFEMinds Online, and learn how to incorporate the program into their school’s existing professional learning and student wellbeing policies and initiatives.
The following suite of video-resources make up SAFEMinds Online.
SAFEMinds Online is an immersive, video-based* experience that utilises case studies of children, young people, their families and teachers to develop the knowledge and understanding of the whole school community about the many different forms of emotional distress they may experience, as well as how they might present.
* videos are based on broad clinical experience and do not depict the stories of actual people.
Ethan complains of a sore tummy and headaches. How can school staff make the best choices to understand the real story?
This story is fictional and not based on any individual’s experiences, however the content may arouse strong emotions in some viewers. If distressed, please contact Lifeline 131114.
Dylan is smart, but he’s falling asleep in class, and missing band practice. Help school staff make the best choices to find him support.
This story is fictional and not based on any individual’s experiences, however the content may arouse strong emotions in some viewers. If distressed, please contact Lifeline 131114.
Krystal has recently started at a new school. Her new friend Mia is shocked by a photo on Krystal's Instagram. Help Krystal’s teacher make the best decisions to support her.
This story is fictional and not based on any individual’s experiences, however the content may arouse strong emotions in some viewers. If distressed, please contact Lifeline 131114.
Dylan seems to have dropped-out of life, preferring the Internet to socialising and sleep. How much more can his mum take? Help her to make the best choices to support Dylan.
This story is fictional and not based on any individual’s experiences, however the content may arouse strong emotions in some viewers. If distressed, please contact Lifeline 131114.
She was excited about a sleepover at her best friend’s house, so her mum was a little surprised when she came home early. Help Zoe’s mum understand what’s going on.
This story is fictional and not based on any individual’s experiences, however the content may arouse strong emotions in some viewers. If distressed, please contact Lifeline 131114.
Once you have worked through the SAFEMinds Online case studies utilising the NIP it in the bud! toolkit, test your knowledge on the application of the NIP it in the bud! early intervention approach by completing this short quiz.
You will be able to email yourself a copy of your results at the end, to add to your professional development records.
Read about the background and the evidence base supporting SAFEMinds and the NIP it in the bud! early intervention approach.
Completed SAFEMinds Online and want to access our factsheets? Access the SAFEMinds Toolkit here.
Contact us to register for an upcoming training in your state or territory.
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