The DPJ Foundation launches vital children’s books

Lawnsiad Sefydliad DPJ o lyfrau plant hanfodol

DPJ founder Emma's children - Trystan, Mali & Erin 
Plant Emma, sylfaenydd DPJ - Trystan, Mali ac Erin

On Tuesday 10 October 2023, World Mental Health Awareness Day, The DPJ Foundation shared their first series of therapeutic children’s picture books the “Dan Y Bont” series with schools across Wales.

The DPJ Foundation, founded in 2016, supports the mental health of agricultural communities across Wales, providing a 24/7 helpline ‘Share The Load’. This includes supporting those who are bereaved and are experiencing grief.

Ar ddydd Mawrth 10fed o Hydref, 2023, Diwrnod Ymwybyddiaeth Iechyd Meddwl y Byd, rhannodd Sefydliad DPJ, gydag ysgolion ledled Cymru, llyfrau “Dan Y Bont”, eu cyfres gyntaf o lyfrau lluniau therapiwtig i blant.

Mae Sefydliad DPJ, a sefydlwyd yn 2016, yn cefnogi iechyd meddwl cymunedau amaethyddol ar draws Cymru, gan ddarparu llinell gymorth 24/7 ‘Rhannwch y Baich’. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cymorth i’r rhai hynny sydd wedi cael profedigaeth ac sy’n galaru.

The idea for this project came from the DPJ Foundation’s charity manager, Kate Miles. Kate recognized the increasing need for bereavement support for children in rural communities, especially those in agriculture and often found parents turning to the DPJ Foundation for assistance when their children were grappling with the complexities of grief. Thanks to a grant from the Welsh Government’s Bereavement Support Fund, the charity was able to create a collection of three books specifically tailored to primary-age children, aiming to provide them with much-needed support during difficult times. Fundraising from within the agricultural community has enabled the DPJ Foundation to place books within schools and libraries across the country. Kate said:

“We know that everyone will experience bereavement at some point, and dealing with this as a child can be difficult. We wanted to support parents, grandparents and teachers to have conversations that can enable their children to deal with often overwhelming feelings. We know that it is hard to support your child whilst trying to face your own loss so we wanted to offer something that may help.”

Lluniwyd y prosiect yn dilyn awgrymiadau Kate Miles, rheolwr elusen Sefydliad DPJ, a oedd wedi adnabod yr angen cynyddol am gefnogaeth profedigaeth i blant mewn cymunedau gwledig, yn enwedig cymunedau amaethyddol. Roedd hi’n aml yn gweld rhieni’n troi at Sefydliad DPJ am help pan roedd eu plant yn brwydro gyda chymhlethdodau galar. Diolch i grant oddiwrth Gronfa Cynnal Profedigaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, fe’m galluogwyd ni i greu casgliad o dri llyfr a deilwrwyd yn arbennig ar gyfer plant oed cynradd, gan anelu at ddarparu’r gefnogaeth sydd mawr ei hangen arnynt yn ystod dyddiau tywyll. Mae gwaith codi arian yn y gymuned amaethyddol wedi galluogi Sefydliad DPJ i osod llyfrau mewn ysgolion a llyfrgelloedd ar draws y wlad. Dywedodd Kate:

“Mae pawb yn dioddef profedigaeth ar ryw adeg. Gall delio â hyn pan yn blentyn fod yn anodd. Roeddwn am gefnogi rhieni, neiniau a theidiau ac athrawon i gynnal sgyrsiau a allai alluogi eu plant i ddelio â theimladau sydd, yn aml, yn gwbl llethol. Deallwn ei fod yn anodd cefnogi’ch plentyn tra’n ceisio wynebu’ch colled eich hun, felly roeddwn am gynnig rhywbeth a allai fod o gymorth”.

Collaborating with the dedicated team at Green Wellies Publishing in Builth Wells, the Charity’s founder, Emma O’Sullivan alongside Kate, worked to lay the foundations for these stories. Anwen Nicholls and Kenneth Rees then skilfully crafted the words and illustrations to bring these ideas to life.

The Dan Y Bont series revolves around the lives of three children in a small village, each of whom has experienced a different type of loss—whether it's the passing of a grandparent, the sudden loss of a sibling, or the tragedy of a parent's suicide. These books approach these sensitive topics with great care and in a child-friendly manner, offering children explanations and suggestions for moving forward while reinforcing the message that it's okay not to feel okay during such difficult times.

Wrth gydweithio’n agos gyda thîm cyhoeddi ymroddgar Green Wellies yn Llanfair ym Muallt, aeth Emma O’Sullivan, sylfaenydd yr elusen, a Kate ati i ddatblygu seiliau cysyniadol y llyfrau hyn. Yna, defnyddiwyd talent creadigol Anwen Nicholls a Kenneth Rees i ysgrifennu a darlunio’r storïau er mwyn rhoi bywyd i’r syniadau hyn.

Troella gyfres Dan Y Bont o gwmpas bywydau tri o blant mewn pentref bach, ac mae pob un ohonynt wedi dioddef colled wahanol - p’un ai bod hynny’n farwolaeth tadcu neu famgu, colli brawd neu chwaer yn sydyn neu hunan-laddiad trasig rhiant. Mae’r llyfrau hyn yn trafod y themáu sensitif hyn gyda gofal mawr ac mewn dull cyfeillgar i blant wrth gynnig esboniadau ac awgrymiadau ynghylch symud ymlaen, tra’n atgyfnerthu’r neges ei fod yn iawn i beidio â theimlo’n iawn mewn cyfnodau mor anodd.

Emma, who is also a primary school teacher, established The DPJ Foundation after losing her husband Daniel Picton-Jones to suicide. Emma's personal experiences with her own children following the loss of Daniel served as inspiration for these books. Emma says:

“I am so proud of what we have achieved with these books, alongside the team at Green Wellies. When Mali and Trystan lost their dad, there was little support for them so to now see these books available for children who are experiencing grief is wonderful. As a teacher, I see the impact of books every day and I’m glad we can now contribute to that with our own books.”

Sefydlodd Emma, sydd hefyd yn athrawes ysgol gynradd, Sefydliad DPJ wedi iddi golli ei gŵr, Daniel Picton-Jones, drwy hunanladdiad. Hysbrydolodd profiadau personol Emma gyda’i phlant ei hun yn dilyn colli Daniel i fynd ati i lunio’r llyfrau hyn. Dyma oedd gan Emma i’w ddweud:

“Dw i mor falch o’r hyn ‘rydym ni, ochr yn ochr â’r tîm yn Green Wellies, wedi’i gyflawni. Pan gollodd Mali a Thrystan eu tad doedd fawr o gefnogaeth ar gael iddynt, felly mae’n hyfryd gweld bod y llyfrau hyn ar gael i blant sy’n galaru. Fel athrawes, gwelaf yn ddyddiol effaith llyfrau a dw i mor falch ein bod yn gallu cyfrannu at hynny gyda’n llyfrau ni’n hunain”.

Books have been distributed to over 160 schools right across the country along with an accompanying assembly that is available in both English and Welsh and which can be delivered to introduce the books and open the conversation around bereavement and mental health. Assemblies will be delivered in some schools by the DPJ Foundation’s Regional Champion volunteers, including one by Mali, Emma’s daughter, who had also fundraised along with her brother Trystan and friends Reuben, Freddie and Isla who are also helping to distribute the books. Mali said:

“When mum told us about the books, we all decided to wanted to fundraise to make sure we could get these books out to schools. We didn’t have anything like this when we lost dad so it’s nice that other children and families can use the books to help.”

Trystan said “I really liked being able to look in a book and see another child who had lost their dad too and was able to get help and understand what happened. I think they will be really good for other children who have been through the same thing as me.”

Mae llyfrau wedi’u dosbarthu i dros 160 o ysgolion ar draws y wlad, ynghyd â gwasanaethau boreuol cyfrwng Cymraeg a Saesneg. Mae modd eu defnyddio i gyflwyno’r llyfrau a dechrau’r sgwrs am brofedigaeth ac iechyd meddwl. Cafodd rhai o’r gwasanaethau eu cyflwyno yn yr ysgolion gan wirfoddolwyr Pencampwyr Rhanbarthol Sefydliad DPJ, gan gynnwys un gan Mali, merch Emma, a oedd hefyd wedi bod yn codi arian yng nghwmi ei brawd Trystan a’i ffrindiau Reuben, Freddie ac Isla, sydd hefyd yn helpu dosbarthu’r llyfrau. Dyma a oedd gan Mali i’w ddweud:

“Pan soniodd mam am y llyfrau, roedd pob un ohonom wedi penderfynu ein bod am godi arian i wneud yn siwr bod y llyfrau hyn yn cyrraedd ysgolion. Doedd dim byd tebyg ar gael i ni pan gollon ni Dad. Felly, mae’n braf bod plant a theuluoedd eraill yn gallu defnyddio’r llyfrau i’w helpu”.

Dywedodd Trystan “Roeddwn wir yn hoffi darllen am blentyn arall a oedd hefyd wedi colli ei dad a chael help yn ogystal â deall yr hyn a oedd wedi digwydd. Dw i’n credu y byddant yn dda iawn ar gyfer plant eraill sydd wedi profi’r un sefyllfa”.

The charity was committed to making the books available in both English and Welsh to ensure widespread accessibility and Welsh books are currently in the print stage.

Anwen Nicholls and Ken Rees of Green Wellies Publishing are proud to have worked on these books. They said:

“We hope that the books offer some support to families when they are facing sadness, and looking to find images and words to help make sense of the challenging times in their lives. It has been an honour and great responsibility working with the DPJ on this project, and we would like to extend our thanks for being tasked with this very important piece of work.”

Roedd yr elusen wedi’i hymrwymo i sicrau bod y llyfrau ar gael yn Gymraeg a Saesneg, fel eu bod yn hygyrch i bawb, ac mae’r fersiynau Cymraeg yn nwylo’r argraffwyr ar hyn o bryd.

Mae Anwen Nicholls a Ken Rees o gwmni cyhoeddi Green Wellies yn falch eu bod wedi gweithio ar y llyfrau hyn. Dyma oedd ganddynt i’w ddweud:

“Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y llyfrau’n cynnig rhywfaint o gymorth i deuluoedd pan y maen nhw’n wynebu tristwch, ac yn chwilio am luniau a geiriau sy’n helpu gwneud synnwyr mewn cyfnodau heriol yn eu bywydau. Mae wedi bod yn anrhydedd a chyfrifoldeb mawr i weithio gyda DPJ ar y prosiect hwn, ac hoffwn estyn ein diolch iddynt am gael y fraint o weithio ar y darn pwysig yma o waith”.

As the week commencing 10th-16th October was also ‘Ag Mental Health Week’, it’s an important opportunity for the charity to highlight the support available for mental health in agriculture, including around bereavement. Kate was keen to highlight that the books are just one aspect of the support available from the DPJ Foundation:

“We all cope differently with loss and for those that need a bit of extra help, we are here at the DPJ Foundation to listen and to support, including with counselling and other therapy. We have developed some information about the practical aspects of a death in agriculture and hope that this along with these books will help make things if not easier, then a little less hard. We also have developed free training for those in the community who want to support others with their bereavement.”

Gan fod wythnos y 10fed – 16eg o Hydref hefyd yn ‘Wythnos Iechyd Meddwl Amaeth’, mae’n gyfle pwysig i’r elusen i amlygu’r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael ar gyfer iechyd meddwl mewn amaeth, gan gynnwys profedigaeth. Roedd Kate yn awyddus i ddweud bod y llyfrau ond yn un agwedd o’r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael gan Sefydliad DPJ:

“Mae pawb yn ymdopi â cholled mewn gwahanol ffordd ac, i’r rhai hynny sydd angen ychydig mwy o help, rydym yma yn Sefydliad DPJ i wrando a chefnogi, gan gynnwys cynnig cwnsela a therapi arall. Rydym wedi datblygu peth gwybodaeth ynghylch yr agweddau ymarferol yn dilyn marwolaeth ym myd amaeth, ac yn mawr obeithio y bydd hyn, ynghyd â’r llyfrau, yn gwneud pethau’n ychydig llai anodd, os nad yn haws. Rydym hefyd wedi datblygu hyfforddiant am ddim i’r rhai hynny yn y gymuned sydd am gefnogi eraill sydd wedi dioddef profedigaeth”.

To find out more about The DPJ Foundation, their picture book launch and their services, make sure to follow them on social media. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Snapchat and TikTok.

If you believe that individual children or families in your school would benefit from their own copy of a book, please contact the DPJ Foundation.

If you need mental health support, you can call them free on 0800 587 4262 or text them on 07860 048 799 (this number doesn’t accept calls).

I wybod mwy am waith Sefydliad DPJ, y lansiad o’i llyfrau lluniau a’n gwasanaethau, gwnewch yn siwr eich bod yn ein dilyn ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol yr wythnos hon. Gallwch ddod o hyd i ni ar Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Snapchat a TikTok.

Os ydych o’r farn y byddai plant neu deuluoedd unigol yn eich hysgol yn elwa ar dderbyn copi personol o lyfr, cysylltwch â Sefydliad DPJ os gwelwch yn dda.

Os oes angen arnoch gefnogaeth iechyd meddwl gallwch ein ffonio’n ddi-dâl ar 0800 587 4262 neu anfon neges testun ar 07860 048 799 (nid yw’r rhif hwn yn derbyn galwadau).

Children's Mental Health Week 2023 - how to maintain good mental health in school

Children's Mental Health Week 2023, 6 - 12 February, is all about making a difference to the lives of children and young people across the UK. The awareness week is organised and promoted by the charity Place2Be. The theme this year is "Let's Connect." 

Today, as part of our week-long celebration of Children’s Mental Health Week, we are pleased to introduce a young guest author. Lucy is a member of the Junior Start Well Board* in Powys, and writes about her life as a high school pupil here in Mid Wales.

Maintaining good mental health may come as a struggle and is a constant balancing act. However, it does not always have to be a difficult and negative experience. 

As a teenager (I’m 15 years old) I can really appreciate how complicated our continuously changing lives are and living in the moment allows me to relate to and understand many problems teenagers are facing currently. Whether that would be post COVID struggles such as social anxiety and work overload, or simply exam stresses to friendship and relationship problems. 

All the listed above are completely understandable and relatable issues for many at the moment, and it would be inconsiderate not to address them. If you find yourself in any one of these situations where you’re not sure how to balance your head with your heart and maintain a sensible level of emotion, don't be afraid to reach out to others for help.

It is not often thought about, but we all have a mental health, and almost 100% of what we do will impact that mental health some way or another. Be it good or bad. This is where the balancing comes into practice. 

Changing lives and changing emotions, will mean a changing headspace. Here is what appears scary. Uncontrollable thoughts and feelings will arise, that will weigh you down like the devil and angel. None of which can be predicted. Way to dramatise, right? But that is how we feel. 

Finding ourselves can be a daunting experience; social image and acceptance are crucial in a young person’s life, however much they tell us that it doesn’t matter. Of course, it’s built into society, and no amount of preaching will fix that problem. On the one hand, having something to work toward, and maintain yourself for, is always an asset in life. On the other hand, don’t be fooled into a negative mindset of focusing on others’ opinions of you.

High school is like juggling balls of fire. You take your eye off the ball, and all hell breaks loose. Of course, in reality it’s not that deep, but try telling me that when friendships are broken, and secrets are spilled the day before I have an important exam. So how do we cope with stresses like this?

The simplest answer: Take a chill-pill. Sit down and just think. Remove any social device from your presence and commit to a full connection with your emotions. Ask yourself, how am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way? Is this a normal feeling? Or a new feeling? What is the best way to get rid of this feeling?

A feeling of overwhelm and confusion is best dealt with in a way which works for you. Be it, writing it down on a piece of paper – and burn it later if you want - (this works best for me), messaging a friend or family member to let out your emotions, and have a little rant, even recording a voice note and then deleting it after. Any way you can use to release your emotions is beneficial for your mental health. Even the smallest of things. Imagine wringing out a dirty wet sponge. All that weight and dirt and grime has built up until you can take no more. The only way is out.

All being said, the best way to aid a situation like this, is to avoid it all together. As I mentioned, High School is an unpredictable place, where we can be dragged into all sorts of issues that are beyond our control. But let’s back up and take a look at what is within our control.

Having a healthy work / life balance is wildly important for anyone, and in school it’s just the same. Attitude going into classes will determine how the teachers view you and your values. And remember; respect goes both ways. The best way to enjoy school is to be honest, open, and caring to all around you. That will make school life easier. In turn this should take stress off exams, as you will start to enjoy your classes. 

As for friendships and relationships, they will fluctuate with time, so don’t let that put you off. We can’t hold on to something that is not meant to be. And to be honest, try and avoid being petty. Life’s too short to hold a grudge.

The main person in control of your emotions is you. So do things that make you happy, have friends that make you happy, and go places that make you happy.

Having experienced many of the things above myself, I hope this advice will act as an understanding of what we go through as teenagers. From one to another.

*Junior Start Well Board is a group of young people aged 11 – 17 years of age who meet every month to talk about the issues affecting young people. The purpose of the group is to listen to the views and the opinions of their peers and provide a voice for young people in Powys, so that they can feedback and contribute to decisions that affect them. Based on these conversations, they ask to meet with the services in Powys who are best placed to listen and respond or look at setting up any new projects in response to need.

If you would like more information on how to join please contact sharon.titley@powys.gov.uk

Find out more about SilverCloud online resources for children, young people and supportive adults.

Reading Well for teens suggests recommended reading and digital resources to help you understand your feelings and boost your confidence.

Photos from unSplash - Nick Fewings

Reaching into schools – Powys Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Cyrraedd ysgolion – Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed (CAMHS) 

Gail, Steve & Tor of the CAMHS Schools In-reach Team | Gail, Steve a Tor o dîm Gwasanaeth Allgymorth CAMHS Powys

by | gan Gail Morris

Powys CAMHS Schools In-Reach Team Lead 
Arweinydd Tîm Mewngymorth Ysgolion Powys CAMHS 

The Powys CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) School In-Reach Service was developed following Welsh Government direction after several reports highlighted concerns that pupil mental health and wellbeing was deteriorating across Wales. It followed on from the evaluation of a pilot undertaken by the Welsh Government in 2021, where an assigned practitioner offered consultation and training relating to emotional health and wellbeing.

“There was evidence before the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) In-Reach to Schools Pilot programme that mental health difficulties, such as feeling low, had increased in Wales, for example:

• The proportion of 15 year old boys reporting feeling low more than once a week increased from less than 10 per cent in 2009 to 15 per cent in 2014; and
• The proportion of 15 year old girls reporting feeling low more than once a week increased from less than 22 per cent in 2009 to 30 per cent in 2014 (Public Health Wales, 2016).”

Evaluation of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHs) In-Reach to Schools Pilot Programme: Final Report

Datblygwyd Gwasanaeth Mewngymorth i Ysgolion CAMHS Powys (Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed) o gyfarwyddyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar ôl i sawl adroddiad amlygu pryderon bod iechyd meddwl a lles disgyblion yn dirywio ledled Cymru. Roedd yn dilyn ymlaen o werthusiad o gynllun peilot a gynhaliwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2021, lle cynigiodd ymarferydd penodedig ymgynghoriad a hyfforddiant yn ymwneud ag iechyd a lles emosiynol.

“Roedd tystiolaeth gan gyn rhaglen Beilot Mewngymorth i Ysgolion Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed (CAMHS) fod anawsterau iechyd meddwl, megis teimlo’n isel, wedi cynyddu yng Nghymru, er enghraifft:

• Roedd cyfran y bechgyn 15 oed sy'n dweud eu bod yn teimlo'n isel fwy nag unwaith yr wythnos wedi cynyddu o lai na 10 y cant yn 2009 i 15 y cant yn 2014; a
• Roedd cyfran y merched 15 oed a nododd eu bod yn teimlo'n isel fwy nag unwaith yr wythnos wedi cynyddu o lai na 22 y cant yn 2009 i 30 y cant yn 2014 (Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, 2016)."

Gwerthusiad o Raglen Beilot Mewngymorth y Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed (CAMHS) i Ysgolion: Adroddiad Terfynol

The pilot was undertaken between 2018 - 2020. During this time involvement relating to staff wellbeing was also offered, but on evaluation it was identified this was best delivered in a corporate response, therefore provided by the employer. Like many new and existing initiatives, the Covid-19 pandemic affected the delivery across all of Wales of the pilot service, and how it was evaluated. Schools in South Powys were involved in the pilot.

The Welsh Government’s final evaluation was completed in 2021 and it was decided that services would be rolled out across all health boards in Wales.

“Evidence suggests that (the pilot) has made important contributions to improving staff skills and confidence; access to specialist advice, liaison and consultation; and to improving staff mental health and well-being, which all support Whole-School Approaches to Mental Health and Well-being (Welsh Government, 2021)”.

Evaluation of the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHs) In-Reach to Schools Pilot Programme: Final Report

Cafodd y peilot ei gynnal rhwng 2018 - 2020. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn cynigiwyd ymwneud â lles staff hefyd, ond ar werthuso nodwyd mai'r ffordd orau i gyflwyno hynny oedd mewn ymateb corfforaethol, wedi’i ddarparu gan y cyflogwr. Fel llawer o fentrau newydd a rhai cyfredol, effeithiodd pandemig Covid-19 ar y ddarpariaeth ym mhob rhan o Gymru lle darparwyd y gwasanaeth peilot, a hefyd sut y cafodd ei werthuso. Roedd ysgolion yn Ne Powys yn rhan o'r cynllun peilot.

Cwblhawyd gwerthusiad terfynol Llywodraeth Cymru yn 2021 a phenderfynwyd y byddai gwasanaethau'n cael eu cyflwyno ar draws holl fyrddau iechyd Cymru.

" Awgryma'r dystiolaeth fod (y peilot) wedi gwneud cyfraniadau pwysig at wella sgiliau a hyder staff; mynediad at gyngor, cyswllt ac ymgynghori arbenigol; ac i wella iechyd meddwl a lles staff, a fydd yn cefnogi Dulliau Ysgol Gyfan at Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant (Llywodraeth Cymru, 2021)".

Gwerthusiad o Raglen Beilot Mewngymorth y Gwasanaethau Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed (CAMHS) i Ysgolion: Adroddiad Terfynol

Powys CAMHS Schools In-Reach Service | Tîm Mewngymorth Ysgolion Powys CAMHS

Since March 2022 the Powys CAMHS In-Reach Service has been in a period of development, which has included recruitment, staff training, development of a service leaflet, procedures and processes, and raising awareness within internal and external agencies.

The CAMHS Schools-In Reach team at Powys Teaching Health Board | Tîm Gwasanaeth Allgymorth CAMHS Powys

There were 12 recommendations made in the Final Evaluation of the pilot by the Welsh Government 2021. These have been benchmarked with external partners to ascertain and initially position and identify where the focus of priorities should be. This has provided a reassuring position for the initial assessment.

The new service is aligned to other CAMHS services and is designed to be an early identification and intervention service, providing staff in school with the skills to identify and respond timely to issues in a Whole School Approach response. This means that children and young people are supported with their emotional health and wellbeing by someone who knows them.

There is a Task and Finish Group involved in developing a Standard Operational Procedure relating to the nature and scope of the service, involving internal and external key stakeholders. Practitioners have been contacting schools to which they are assigned, and scoping has occurred with schools to understand what their existing knowledge is of the service, and what their identified needs relating to emotional health and wellbeing are in school that can be supported by the Powys CAMHS School In-Reach Service.

Ers mis Mawrth 2022 mae Gwasanaeth Mewngymorth Powys CAMHS wedi bod yn cymryd rhan mewn cyfnod o ddatblygu, sydd wedi cynnwys recriwtio, hyfforddi staff, datblygu taflen wasanaeth, gweithdrefnau a phrosesau, a chodi ymwybyddiaeth o fewn asiantaethau mewnol ac allanol.

Cafodd 12 o argymhellion eu gwneud yng Ngwerthusiad Terfynol y peilot gan Lywodraeth Cymru 2021. Mae'r rhain wedi'u meincnodi gyda phartneriaid allanol i ganfod a hefyd i ddechrau pennu a nodi lle y dylai ffocws y blaenoriaethau fod. Mae hyn wedi rhoi lle calonogol i'r asesiad cychwynnol.

Mae'r gwasanaeth newydd yn cyd-fynd â gwasanaethau CAMHS eraill, a'i fwriad yw bod yn wasanaeth adnabod ac ymyrraeth gynnar, gan roi'r sgiliau i staff yn yr ysgol nodi ac ymateb yn amserol i faterion mewn ymateb Dull Ysgol Gyfan. Mae hyn yn golygu bod plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu cefnogi gyda'u hiechyd a'u lles emosiynol gan rywun sy'n eu hadnabod.

Mae Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen yn rhan o'r gwaith o ddatblygu Gweithdrefn Weithredol Safonol yn ymwneud â natur a chwmpas y gwasanaeth, sy'n cynnwys rhanddeiliaid allweddol mewnol ac allanol. Mae ymarferwyr wedi bod yn cysylltu ag ysgolion y maent yn cael eu neilltuo iddynt, ac mae ymarferion cwmpasu wedi digwydd gydag ysgolion i ddeall beth yw eu gwybodaeth bresennol am y gwasanaeth, a'r hyn y mae eu hanghenion a nodwyd yn ymwneud ag iechyd a lles emosiynol yn yr ysgol y gellir eu cefnogi gan Wasanaeth Mewngymorth Ysgolion Powys CAMHS.

Support for children and young people | Cymorth i blant a phobl ifanc

If a child or young person is considered in need of support the school makes a referral which is responded to in 5 working days. The consultation should take place within 10 working days. Consultation can be with identity shared, with consent from the parents/young person, or anonymously if not.

All schools have been assigned a practitioner and independent schools in Powys have also been made aware of the service. Staff training relates to Youth Mental Health First Aid, which staff in the team are trained to deliver virtually, and colleagues in Primary Mental Health are trained to deliver face to face. All training can be booked on Eventbrite. 

Furthermore, the team are responding to themes and trends and are developing packages for both school staff and children and young people; these include some existing resources involving resilience and anxiety, and new ones that have been developed including - eating disorders, exam stress, LGBT, self-harm, social media and resilience.

Os ystyrir bod plentyn neu berson ifanc angen cymorth, mae'r ysgol yn gwneud atgyfeiriad a ymatebir iddo mewn 5 niwrnod gwaith. Dylai'r ymgynghoriad gael ei gynnal o fewn 10 niwrnod gwaith. Gall ymgynghoriad gael ei gynnig wrth rannu manylion adnabod gyda chaniatâd y rhieni/person ifanc, neu os na yn ddienw.

Mae ymarferydd wedi’i neilltuo i bob ysgol ac mae ysgolion annibynnol ym Mhowys hefyd wedi cael gwybod am y gwasanaeth. Mae hyfforddiant staff yn ymwneud â Chymorth Cyntaf Iechyd Meddwl Ieuenctid, pa staff yn y tîm sydd wedi'u hyfforddi i'w darparu'n rhithiol, ac mae cydweithwyr mewn Iechyd Meddwl Sylfaenol yn cael eu hyfforddi i ddarparu wyneb yn wyneb. Gellir archebu'r holl hyfforddiant ar Eventbrite. 

Yn ogystal, mae'r tîm yn ymateb i themâu a thueddiadau ac yn datblygu pecynnau ar gyfer staff ysgolion a phlant a phobl ifanc; mae'r rhain yn cynnwys rhai adnoddau cyfredol sy'n ymwneud â gwytnwch a gofid, a rhai newydd sydd wedi eu datblygu gan gynnwys - anhwylderau bwyta, straen arholiadau, LHDT, hunan-niweidio, cyfryngau cymdeithasol a gwytnwch.

Gail and Steve at the Royal Welsh Show 2022 | Gail a Steve yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru 2022

Partnership working | Gweithio mewn partneriaeth

The team are also represented on subgroups of the Powys Emotional Workstream (which contributes towards supporting good emotional health and wellbeing for Children and Young people across Powys) platforms, including exam stress, bereavement, and peer support, and work regularly with partners from health, education, social care, Youth Services and the voluntary sector.

We support external partners with issues of significance to support children, young people and staff in school. Initiatives such as the wellbeing tent at the Royal Welsh Show support and promote wellbeing with partners.

Cynrychiolir y tîm hefyd ar is-grwpiau Llif Gwaith Emosiynol Powys (sy'n cyfrannu at gefnogi iechyd a lles emosiynol da i Blant a Phobl Ifanc ar draws Powys), gan gynnwys straen arholiadau, profedigaeth, a chefnogaeth gan gyfoedion, ac maent yn gweithio'n rheolaidd gyda phartneriaid o iechyd, addysg, Gofal Cymdeithasol, Gwasanaethau Ieuenctid a'r sector gwirfoddol.

Rydym yn cefnogi partneriaid allanol sydd â phroblemau o arwyddocâd i gefnogi plant, pobl ifanc a staff yn yr ysgol. Mae mentrau fel y babell les yn y Sioe Frenhinol yn cefnogi ac yn hybu lles gyda phartneriaid.

The Powys CAMHS School In-Reach team | Tîm Gwasanaeth Allgymorth CAMHS Powys

The team is currently staffed with a team leader and 3 full-time equivalent posts, whilst an administrator post is currently being advertised and shortly a psychology post. There are plans to develop the team further with additional support roles.

This team has the potential to develop processes in schools to empower and enable staff to identify, in an early intervention approach, children and young people who may be experiencing issues with their emotional health and wellbeing. They are in a privileged position to undertake this. As the staffing complement in the team is built upon, this may give opportunity for the scope of the service to develop so that there is face to face support offered to children and young people, in an early intervention response.

You can read the full Evaluation of the pilot project HERE.

Ar hyn o bryd mae'r tîm yn cael ei staffio gan arweinydd tîm a 3 swydd gyfatebol llawn amser, tra bod swydd gweinyddwr yn cael ei hysbysebu ar hyn o bryd a chyn bo hir swydd seicoleg hefyd. Mae cynlluniau ar y gweill i ddatblygu'r tîm ymhellach gyda rolau cymorth ychwanegol.

Mae gan y tîm hwn y potensial i ddatblygu prosesau mewn ysgolion i rymuso a galluogi staff i adnabod, a defnyddio dull ymyrraeth gynnar, gyda phlant a phobl ifanc a allai fod yn dioddef problemau gyda'u hiechyd a'u lles emosiynol. Maent mewn sefyllfa freintiedig i ymgymryd â hyn. Wrth i'r gwaith o adeiladu tim o staff ddatblygu, allai hyn roi cyfle i sgôp y gwasanaeth ddatblygu fel bod cefnogaeth wyneb yn wyneb yn cael ei gynnig i blant a phobl ifanc, a hynny fel ymateb ymyrraeth gynnar.

Gallwch ddarllen gwerthusiad llawn y prosiect peilot YMA.

Many thanks to Gail for telling us more about this excellent initiative to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Powys. 

If you want to find out more you can email: Gail.Morris4@wales.nhs.uk

Find out more about the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service provided by 

Powys Teaching Health Board.

Diolch yn fawr i Gail am ddweud mwy wrthym am y fenter ardderchog hon i gefnogi iechyd meddwl a lles plant a phobl ifanc ym Mhowys. 

Os ydych chi eisiau darganfod mwy, gallwch e-bostio: Gail.Morris4@wales.nhs.uk

Darganfod mwy am y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Meddwl Plant a’r Glasoed a ddarperir gan Fwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys.

KiVa anti-bullying programme in Powys schools

This week’s guest post is from Dr Sue Evans, a Consultant Child Psychologist working as the Lead for Parenting and Children's Social Competence Programmes at Powys Teaching Health Board. Sue has been leading on work to introduce the KiVa anti-bullying scheme to schools across Powys over the past couple of years. I caught up with her lately to find out more about how it’s going.

What is your role as a Consultant Child Psychologist?

My role is very much about working with agencies and schools across Powys, and also across Wales in using evidence based approaches which promote children’s emotional health and well being and social competence. This involves working with parents, teachers and children using complimentary approaches. I feel very privileged to have been able to train staff from a whole range of agencies in evidence based approaches. I have focussed particularly on the Incredible Years® programme but since 2014 my role has also included rolling out and researching the KiVa anti-bullying programme.

I am also an honorary lecturer at Bangor University and through this post have been involved in supporting training and research across Wales.

How can childhood bullying impact on people, not only at the time but also later in life?

Sadly there is a good deal of evidence about the potential negative impact of bullying both in childhood and on into adulthood. Children who have been bullied may experience anxiety, depression, and loneliness and they may not do as well as they could do academically. There are risks into adulthood for depression, low self-esteem & difficulty sustaining relationships. Children who bully others are at risk of criminal offending in adulthood and may learn to use aggression as a means to get what they want. Children who are both bullies and victims carry the highest risk factors. 

Tell us about KiVa. What is it, and how did you find out about it?

I found out about KiVa through my work at Bangor University. Kiva was developed and researched in Finland, it has a lot of robust research evidence of its effectiveness. It was great to have the opportunity to train as a KiVa trainer in Finland in 2014. After successfully piloting the programme in 2014 with 10 schools we made a decision to offer it to all primary and special schools in Powys through a rolling programme of training,

KiVa includes:

Actions for all in the form of:

• A classroom curriculum for Key Stage Two (pupils aged 7 – 11 years). 
• Whole school assemblies, posters and other material to remind pupils that the school is a KiVa school. 
• Online resources for teachers. 
• Online resources for parents. 
• Online resources for children, including KiVa games, to help pupils build strong and supportive relationships with each other and learn how to deal with bullying. 
• An annual online survey to measure bullying and well being. Pupils complete the survey anonymously online and the University of Turku provide feedback. 

There is also a structured procedure for schools to use if a case of bullying occurs.

Watch this ITV Wales news item which explains the KiVa approach in Powys. 

Why did you want to bring the KiVa anti-bullying scheme to Powys schools?

KiVa is predominantly a personal social education programme for creating a safe and happy school. It is important to understand that schools don’t have to have a specific problem with bullying to introduce KiVa. All schools in Wales are required to have a policy for dealing with bullying and KiVa is one of the best evidence based programmes for tackling bullying. 

What training do staff and pupils undertake to use the KiVa approach?

KiVa should be used as a whole school approach. The first stage is to train senior school staff, usually the head teacher and another member of the school KiVa team. This training takes place over two days and staff who attend the training are given materials to train their whole school staff and ideas and materials for introducing the programme to parents and children. It’s really a cascade model of training with head teachers being responsible for introducing KiVa to their school.

A multi-agency model is used; I provide training on behalf of Powys Teaching Health Board, funding for the training and equipment needed is provided through the Children and Young People’s Partnership and schools implement the programme themselves and pay a registration fee to access the online resources.

Which schools have already signed up to KiVa so far and how is it working for them?

Since 2014 we have trained 50 schools in Powys. This includes all three special schools and 47 primary schools from across the county. Schools are at different stages with KiVa, some have been delivering for three years, and others have been delivering KiVa for one or two years.

The feedback we have had from schools has been very positive. Teachers really like delivering KiVa and most pupils really enjoy it. Head teachers tell us that KiVa is making a real difference in creating a safe and happy school environment. Teachers also tell us that they feel more confident in dealing with bullying when it occurs.

The general feedback from schools has been excellent but we have also got good evidence from research we have carried out. We have a clinical doctoral student researching KiVa outcomes in Powys and she has found significant reductions in pupil reports of bullying for KiVa schools. The great news is that we have found significant effects after just one year, but bullying continues to reduce year on year for schools who continue to use KiVa. 

What has been the most challenging aspect of rolling out the KiVa programme?

The main challenge has been keeping KiVa alive in schools who have trained. Inevitably key staff members change in some schools and we have needed to provide retraining for some schools to ensure continuity.

We know that KiVa works if it is delivered in the way it was intended, so this is the challenge for all schools.

Tell us about some of the most rewarding work you have done with KiVa so far

It has been very rewarding to have great feedback from children and teachers about the impact of KiVa. Here are some of the comments:

“It complements our whole school values and behaviour programme brilliantly, permeating everything we do, and has been embraced by children, staff and parents alike.”

"We initially introduced the programme to the staff to help them to understand what it would be like to be bullied. It enabled them to see the benefit of working together as a team to develop a positive behavioural approach and to develop a culture of anti-bullying. This was cascaded to pupils through a whole school assembly then through in-class KiVa activities which immediately captured the children’s ability to empathise with others. A parents open evening followed in order to give parents the opportunity to understand this approach."

Children now feel empowered to deal with a range of social situations:

“KiVa has made us happy.”

“KiVa has brought us together.”

“It has helped me get along with others, in my old school others were hurting me.”

“It has helped me get new friends.”

“There is no calling names now.”

“We have learnt to recognise what bullying is and how to stop it.” 

Many thanks to Sue for telling us all about the KiVa anti-bullying scheme in Powys. If you would like to contact her, please email: Sue.Evans5@wales.nhs.uk