Schools Mental Health Advisor
Passionate about helping schools deliver support for young people
Welcome
Hello! I’m Rachel Chilver, an experienced schools mental health advisor who is passionate about supporting young people, staff, parents and carers to thrive. With over 20 years' experience in the education sector, I understand the day-to-day demands of working in schools. Combined with the skills I've developed during my counselling diploma, I offer a range of services to help schools deliver mental health and well-being support packages that truly enrich the lives of the whole school community.
- Qualified Teacher
- Senior Mental Health Lead
- DSL trained
- Counselling Diploma
Young people and their mental health
Multiple factors affect teenage well-being. The more risk factors adolescents are exposed to, the greater the potential impact on their mental health, and statistics demonstrate that over half of mental ill-health starts by the age 15 and 75% develops by the age 18.
The Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the well-being of young people and schools are continuing to struggle to address the challenges that arose with the pandemic. A significant rise in anxiety, depression and self-harm in teenagers is now reported nationally and these struggles are impacting attendance levels and attainment, as well as the young people’s overall life fulfilment.
In schools, we are in a prime position to teach our students the importance of looking after their well-being; helping them to develop character, building healthy relationships throughout their lives and introducing them to positive values that will underpin their choices as both teenagers and adults.
How I help schools
Schools are incredibly busy and challenging environments and staff have demanding roles and responsibilities. My aim is to lighten the burden to help deliver the much needed impact around student mental health by creating strategic approaches and support packages that support students' well-being. Strategic planning, monitored provision and integrated well-being programmes are great ways to ensure young people are equipped to overcome the many barriers they face and become resilient learners with positive aspirations for their future ahead.
Schools are seeing an increase in the number of students struggling with their mental health but are not sure how to start helping them, or don't have the capacity to develop provision. I work with educators to establish the best way forward for their own unique setting; to help evaluate need, identify opportunities and create sustainable approaches that deliver the impact pupils need.
Services
- Mental health and well-being audits
- Strategic action planning
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Student well-being programmes
- Student mentoring
- Workshops/Assemblies/PSHE
- Staff development and support
- Staff supervision
- Train-the-trainer
Discover Well-being Programmes
Positive Mindset
This course supports learners to reflect on their self-esteem and explore how to achieve a more positive mindset. Leaners will understand how to reframe negative thinking and how to develop their resilience to help them maintain a positive mindset moving forwards.
Self-Control
This course supports learners to reflect on their own experiences of losing self-control and help them to develop strategies for managing emotions. Learners will understand how to think differently and develop ways in which to maintain a positive mindset moving forwards.
Respect
This course supports learners to understand what respect looks like and consider how to show respect for people, places and things. Learners will reflect on their own attitude towards others and the cause and effect of their behaviour. The course explore new ways of approaching situations and encourages a positive mindset moving forwards.
Grief and Bereavement
This course supports learners to understand what grief and bereavement are and learn about the different stages of the grieving process. They will reflect on their own loss and explore different strategies to support them to help them move forwards with their lives.
Mindful Me
This course is a nurture programme which supports learners to understand mindfulness and explore how living in the present moment can help raise their self-esteem. They will learn a range of mindfulness strategies to support them with the regulation of difficult emotions and will reflect on how they can maintain a positive mindset moving forwards
Healthy Relationships
This course supports learners to explore what healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships look like. They will reflect on their own relationship, learn how to keep safe and explore what love looks like. For Year 9 upwards.
Each course will offer 1:1 support or small group sessions (for up to 4 students). This is a 6 week programme and each session is an hour long. Evidence of student progress will be provided through SDQs, feedback forms, workbooks and activities.