Open Minds
Help for children and teenagers to cope with difficult emotions
Open Minds Calderdale are here to help children and young people cope with the difficult emotions of stress, anxiety and frustration.
A lot of these feelings have come about due to the several months of lockdown and disruption of the daily routine.
The following posters may prove useful in helping your child or teenager deal with such feelings of anxiety. They also provide links for further assistance.
Verd de Gris short films for Children and Young People Part.2
Commissioned through the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Local Transformation Plan, Verd de Gris Arts have worked with film maker Geoff Brokate to produce 5 short films with children and young people in Calderdale.
These films focus on a range of subjects including self-harm, sexuality and identity, and neurological disorders as well as the impact that Covid-19 pandemic has had on children and young people in Calderdale.
The films will be hosted on Vimeo:
The last two films from this set are now available to view.
‘Me, Poetry and the Crisis Point’ (password: realtimetalk) features Phoebe. Phoebe’s story is remarkably open and honest. Her wisdom and strength are there for all to see, not to mention her incredible gifts as a poet and artist. Her story deals with issues around suicide and self-harm and comes with a trigger warning. Phoebe discusses the importance of services in helping those who are in need, but ultimately it is Phoebe’s inner strength that shines through.
‘Me, a GPS and the Failing Government’ features Josh. Josh speaks about the challenges of youth stereotypes: the lazy assumptions around motivation and engagement. Josh also speaks about being disenfranchised from the decision-making process created by governments that perhaps don’t really understand what the demands and needs of young people are.
Previously released:
‘Local film ‘Youth & Covid-19’ features children and young people from different backgrounds and cultures across Calderdale, discussing the immediate effects of lockdown, the closure of schools and the impact of self-isolation.
‘I Am Not My Tourettes’ (password – Realtimetalk) features Beth. Beth lives her life with Tourettes but despite its challenges she strives to live a fulfilling life. She is remarkably open and honest about her experiences, most notably she discusses how ignorant society can be and the abuse she receives from the wider community.
‘Me, Fluidity & Unsocial Media‘ featuring Jed. Jed is a self-assured and caring young man who perfectly embodies the notion that we help our friends when they are down. In this tender and heart-warming film Jed admirably opens up about the pressures of social media and coming out as gay.
You can watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/473549420 (password: realtimetalk)
Next steps… On March 24th 2021 at 16:00 Verd de Gris Arts will be hosting an online screening event where guest speakers including the young people will attend, supported by Calderdale Open Minds Partnership, to discuss issues raised by the films. If you would like to attend this online screening event then please contact Jeff on jeff.vdg@btinternet.com or via mobile: 07926 978651.
Verd de Gris short films for Children and Young People
Commissioned through the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Local Transformation Plan, Verd de Gris Arts have worked with film maker Geoff Brokate to produce 5 short films with children and young people in Calderdale.
These films focus on a range of subjects including self-harm, sexuality and identity, and neurological disorders as well as the impact that Covid-19 pandemic has had on children and young people in Calderdale.
Three of these films are released for you to view with the next two to be announced shortly. The films will be hosted on Vimeo:
‘Local film ‘Youth & Covid-19’ features children and young people from different backgrounds and cultures across Calderdale, discussing the immediate effects of lockdown, the closure of schools and the impact of self-isolation.
‘I Am Not My Tourettes’ (password – Realtimetalk) features Beth. Beth lives her life with Tourettes but despite its challenges she strives to live a fulfilling life. She is remarkably open and honest about her experiences, most notably she discusses how ignorant society can be and the abuse she receives from the wider community.
‘Me, Fluidity & Unsocial Media‘ featuring Jed. Jed is a self-assured and caring young man who perfectly embodies the notion that we help our friends when they are down. In this tender and heart-warming film Jed admirably opens up about the pressures of social media and coming out as gay.
You can watch the film here: https://vimeo.com/473549420 (password: realtimetalk)
Next steps… On March 24th 2021 at 16:00 Verd de Gris Arts will be hosting an online screening event where guest speakers including the young people will attend, supported by Calderdale Open Minds Partnership, to discuss issues raised by the films. If you would like to attend this online screening event then please contact Jeff on jeff.vdg@btinternet.com or via mobile: 07926 978651.
Is your child feeling stressed, worried or uncertain…?
Open Minds Calderdale have compiled a helpful leaflet for dealing with the concerns and worries of children and young people.
It is important to remember that such feelings in children, as well as their carers, are normal and understandable in stressful situations.
The leaflet contains some tips and tactics to handle such stressful situations. At the bottom there is a list of organisations that may be able to offer help and support for the health and emotional wellbeing to children, young people and their families.
Download info : Is your child feeling stressed, worried or uncertain
OPEN CALL for LGBTQ+ Youth in Calderdale: Radio Project YOUth On Air
YOUth on Air Calderdale is an opportunity for a group of young queer people to come together ad explore issues that are important to them.
Between December 2020 and March 2021 you will work together to create your own audio piece, this could be a podcast, radio show or sound art. You will develop ideas for your piece in fun, inclusive workshops and group discussion.
Your work will be broadcasted as part of a larger project alongside other groups of young people from the UK and Europe!
Some feedback from the project:
TimeOut Calderdale have young volunteers as finalists in the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards 2020. We are so happy for Gwynne and Hayley! The awards ceremony is online and will be aired at 7.00 pm on Thursday 26th November 2020. This award is awarded to young people who have demonstrated dedication and made a positive contribution in our Calderdale community.
Please see details from this project – also on our website : http://www.timeoutcalderdale.co.uk/news–updates.html
If you want to take part, sign up online at the following link: https://cutt.ly/shQUBzX
Or if you just want to know more, please email Georgia- georgia@fieldheadfarm.co.uk for more information.
Children’s Mental Health Week – Help Shape Local Mental Health Services – Young persons survey
Are you aged between 9 – 25?
Do you live or go to school/college in Calderdale?
If so, please could we ask you to take part in this opportunity to have your say on helping shape local mental health services. The survey is open from Friday 7th February until Friday 6th March 2020. Please find the link to the survey here
The information gathered is confidential, meaning we can’t identify you from what you tell us.
We will use the information to help us further improve mental health services
for children and young people in Calderdale.
We, the young people’s Tough Times Reference Group, have released this survey during Children’s Mental Health Week. This is to collect views from all children and young people on emotions and mental health support with the aim to help shape and improve services. We would like everyone who takes part in this survey to know its anonymous, and the results will be shared with managers of services that will listen and take these results from this survey seriously.
We hope to get a 1000 voices and would appreciate everyone’s help to achieve this
Thank you
Calderdale’s Young People’s Tough Times Reference Group
Part of Calderdale Open Minds
Take Part in a Survey on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing in Children Young People
Calderdale Youth Council and the Tough Times Reference Group have devised a survey on Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing to gather information about the experience of mental health and emotional wellbeing for children and young people aged 5 – 19 (up to 25 for those with learning difficulties or disability) in Calderdale.
The information we gather will be shared with Commissioners and Service Providers so we can influence services to make positive changes that will help children and young people in Calderdale.
We need as many children and young people in Calderdale to complete this survey as possible and therefore are asking for your help. Please can you share this link or QR code with children and young people and help them to complete this survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CalderdaleCYPMentalHealthSurvey
The survey will close at 5:00pm on Friday 15 February.
Calderdale Open Minds Website for Children and Young People
Calderdale’s multi-agency emotional health and wellbeing taskforce are delighted to announce that a new website for children and young people is now available. The website at www.openmindscalderdale.org.uk is intended to provide advice, information, support and signposting to young people about emotional health and wellbeing and has been developed after extensive input and consultation with young people, as well as a range of professionals.
Lots of students get support from their school when they’re going through a tough time. Young people can speak to anyone working in school about anything that’s bothering them, whether its school related or something different. In Calderdale, schools have a range of services including peer support, family support and counselling that can help.
Feeling distressed or unhappy from time to time is normal, however if these feelings are persistent or are causing a lot of worry for a person your are concerned about then you may need to seek professional help. In Calderdale the Child and Adolescent Mental Health service will be able to help you.
For more information please contact Joanna.marshall@calderdale.gov.uk
Open Minds is becoming Time Out
Open Minds has been delivering mental health education and anti-stigma sessions in Calderdale’s schools and community groups for the past five years. With a welcome and growing focus on children and young people’s emotional wellbeing, our work on Open Minds has been joining up with lots of other organisations’ work for young people – all of which has brought Calderdale to this point.
The name “Open Minds” has been adopted for the overall programme that includes all the various projects that support emotional wellbeing in children and young people, so we are changing our name to avoid confusion and what we’ve been doing under the Open Minds name is becoming part of Time Out.
We’ll be running introductory workshops for organisations who may be interested in being part of Time Out:
- Monday 19 June 11am – 1pm
- Tuesday 20 June 10:30am – 12:30pm
- Wednesday 21 June 10:30am – 12:30pm
At VAC Resource Centre, Hall Street, Halifax HX1 5AY. You only need to come to one of the workshops.
Find out what Time Out is all about and how your organisation can get involved. This is open to any organisation that offers activities that support young people’s wellbeing, to whatever extent. If you work with young people, we’d like to talk with you about Time Out.
All are welcome but please book a place on 01422 345154 or by email to tara@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
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