Guidance, frameworks and key websites

This list is not exhaustive. If we have not included something that you think should be here, please use the feedback form to let us know.

Overview and statistics

• Counselling Directory, 19 February 2016. Key statistics about children and young people.
• Public Health England, 2016. The mental health of children and young people in England. 
• Margaret Murphy/Peter Fonagy, 2012. Chapter 10: Mental health problems in children and young people. From the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer: our children deserve better – prevention pays.
• Centre for Mental Health/Lorraine Khan, 2016. Missed opportunities: a review of recent evidence into children and young people’s mental health. (Chapter on risk and protective factors and mental health difficulties affecting the mental health of children during primary school years). 
• BBC, 2017. Mental health: ten charts on the scale of the problem. An article looking at trends in all-age mental health.

Key government documents

• Public Health England/Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, 2021. Promoting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing: a whole school and college approach.
• Public Health England, 2014. The link between pupil health and wellbeing and attainment: a briefing for head teachers, governors and staff in education settings. 
• Public Health England, 2015. Measuring mental wellbeing in children and young people. 
• Department for Education, 2014. Statutory policies for schools: advice on the policies and documents that governing bodies and proprietors of schools are required to have by law.
• Department for Education, 2016. Mental health and behaviour in schools: departmental advice for school staff. 
• Department for Education, 2024. Behaviour and discipline in schools: advice for headteachers and school staff.  
• Department for Education, 2017. Supporting mental health in schools and colleges: summary report. The results of school surveys on what they are providing to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Has sections on prevention, engaging parents and children, case study examples, survey results etc. 
• Department for Education, 2017. Developing character skills in schools: summary report. 
• Department of Health and Social Care/Department for Education, 2017. Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper. 
• Department of Health, 2015. Future in mind: promoting, protecting and improving our children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. 
• House of Commons, Education & Health Committees, 2017. Children and young people’s mental health: the role of education. 

Developing a whole-school approach

• Katherine Weare/National Children’s Bureau, 2015. What works in promoting social and emotional well-being and responding to mental health problems in schools. 
• National Children’s Bureau, 2016. A whole school framework for emotional well-being and mental health: a self-assessment and improvement tool for school leaders. Outlines a four-stage approach, including first identifying what is already in place in the school. 
• National Children’s Bureau, 2016. A whole school framework for emotional well-being and mental health: supporting resources for school leaders. 
• PSHE Association, 2015. Teacher guidance: preparing to teach about mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• PSHE Association, 2017. PSHE education: programme of study: key stages 1–5.

Key safeguarding documents

• Department for Education, 2024. Keeping children safe in education: for schools and colleges. 
• Department for Education, 2023. Keeping children safe in education. Part 1: Information for all school and college staff. 
• Department for Education, 2015. What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused: advice for practitioners. 
• HM Government, 2023. Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. 

Key websites for general information/advice and resources on child mental health and wellbeing

• MindEd: is a free educational e-learning resource for professionals on children and young people’s mental health. Their resources can be used for individual professional training as well as for prompting wider staff discussion. They are highlighted across this website.
• KidsMatter: an Australian website, which pulls together quality materials and resources for primary school teachers.
• Anna Freud National Centre for Children & Families: working to transform current mental health provision by improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of treatment.
• Place2Be: providing emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, building children’s resilience through talking, creative work and play.
• YoungMinds: working to prevent mental health illness from developing and to improve early intervention and care for children and young people living with a mental health problem.
• Charlie Waller Memorial Trust: working to educate young people about the importance of staying mentally well and helping them understand how to maintain wellbeing.