Young Minds Matter is an early intervention team who can support young people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. They can help with things like:

• Worries
• Negative thoughts
• Anxiety
• Low Mood
• Low self-esteem
• Friendship difficulties stemming from anxiety or low mood
• Low level self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
• Exam Stress

Young Minds Matter mainly uses a type of therapy called Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which helps young people to think about how their thoughts (cognitions) impact on their actions (behaviours) and their feelings (emotions). There are tasks to complete between sessions to help the young person practice the skills they are learning. There are also other members of the team that provide other CBT-informed interventions.

Young Minds Matter does not offer counselling, and sessions are based on supporting a young person with achieving a specific goal by understanding more about their mental health and strategies they can use to achieve the goal.

How to access support

Young People can refer themselves to Young Minds Matter using YMM Chat. YMM Chat is a text-only number where a young person will text with a member of the Young Minds Matter team. The textline is open 9am until 4.30pm, Monday-Friday (except bank holidays). They don’t need consent from school or parents/guardians.

YMM Chat: 07480 635723 (Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm)

YMM Chat is not a self-referral route for parents and carers.

If a student does not want to self-refer, they can also speak with Amy Clark or Emma Smith who will be happy to support them with this.

If for any reason a student doesn’t feel comfortable self-referring or speaking to school, then parents and guardians can access a referral through On Your Mind Glos (www.onyourmindglos.nhs.uk).

What else does Young Minds Matter do in our school

Young Minds Matter also comes in to school to deliver assemblies, workshops and small groups on a range of wellbeing topics such as Transition, Understanding Emotions and Exam Stress. A member of the Young Minds Matter team also meets with us regularly to talk about what other support is available. If you would like us to discuss your child with someone from Young Minds Matter, then let us know by contacting Mrs Amy Clark or Mrs Emma Smith.

Mental Health Support Teams in Schools - Information for Parents (Privacy Notice)

Schools play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people at a time when they are experiencing lots of physical, emotional and social changes. For some children, this stage of growing up can sometimes become overwhelming or difficult to manage, and it can be made worse by life events such as changing schools, exams, challenging home circumstances, bullying or difficult friendships. 

Mental Health Support Teams have been put into schools across Gloucestershire to tackle these challenges by helping young people to feel more resilient, arming them with techniques to look after themselves and strategies to help them cope better with life’s ups and downs. The teams will also support parents and teachers with information and tips about how best to help children and young people who are experiencing difficulties.

The teams are made up of Education Mental Health Practitioners, Senior Mental Health Practitioners, Whole School Approach Practitioners, Let’s Talk Well Counsellors and Team Managers. They will travel to each school for meetings with staff to discuss any children and young people they think may benefit from their support.

If you are concerned about your child and would like some support, please contact your School Mental Health Lead for an initial discussion. They will be in touch with our teams regularly.

Name: Cleeve School
Contact Details: Amy Clark/Emma Smith – arc@cleeveschool.net / eks@cleeveschool.net

When a school notices a child is struggling with day-to-day worries, an initial discussion with the team will take place to ensure this form of support is the most appropriate way forward.

If the young person is at primary school, their parents and/or carers will be contacted and asked to agree consent prior to any support being started with their child.

If the young person is at secondary school, the team may agree to see them on their own and contact them directly without seeking consent or necessarily sharing information about the 1:1 sessions with yourselves as parents/carers. These decisions will be based on the information provided by the referrer. We feel that if a young person takes the important step to get in touch for help, we must respect their wishes so that they can feel safe talking to the team.  We won’t give out any information about them without talking to them first.

The only reason we may not be able to keep things confidential is if we believe a child, young person or someone else is at serious risk of harm.

During our sessions we may identify some children or young people who may benefit from specialist support. We will ensure that young people are aware that any recommendations for specialist support will be discussed with parents or a responsible person before making any onward referral. In exceptional circumstances we may share information with appropriate authorities without your knowledge, such as if we believe a child, young person or someone else is at serious risk of harm, or if information is required by law (such as a court order). YMM follows rigorous organisational policies and procedures to protect personal data and maintain confidentiality. 

If you would prefer that your child was not discussed with our team, should they experience difficulties, you can opt out of this service by contacting your Mental Health School Lead above. Your child will still have access to all the usual statutory support within your school. Please note: if you choose to opt out of the school discussing concerns with YMM we may still see secondary aged children asking for support themselves.