A Big Pupdate From Womble
Notice something different?
That's right, we have renamed our building in Womble's honour to Womble House!
Have you met Womble? He loves to greet new people and existing patients.
Womble is usually onsite on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Have You Read Our Latest Blogs?
Embracing the Summer Break & Preparation for Children Struggling to Attend School?
Woof! As the academic year draws to a close, many parents find themselves eagerly anticipating the summer break. For those whose children grapple with social or school-based anxiety, this break represents more than just a hiatus from academic obligations. It offers a reprieve from the daily battles of persuading anxious children to attend school, managing the emotional turmoil when they refuse, and navigating the myriad of challenges associated with these struggles.
Hi, I'm Womble, the therapy dog at TMH (Teenage Mental Health), and I'm here to guide you through this!
The Strain of School-Related Anxiety
School-related anxiety can manifest in various forms... School Attendance and Summer Holidays
We are starting to release regular short clips with helpful advice...
What questions would you like Fiona or the team at TMH to answer?
Email your questions in confidence to womble@teenagementalhealth.co.uk!
Our latest Advice and Tips Video: When Is It The Right Time To Get Help With Mental Health?
Monthly Book Recommendation
Children's Recommendation
When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry, by Molly Bang
This book follows Sophie as she navigates through her feelings of anger and learns how to manage them in a healthy way.
Adult Book Recommendation
The Positive Parenting Workbook: An Interactive Guide for Strengthening Emotional Connection by Rebecca Eanes
With interactive exercises and practical tips, this workbook helps parents cultivate a positive and supportive relationship with their children.
Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell
Exploring the connection between a parent's own upbringing and their parenting style, this book offers insights to enhance emotional connection with children.
Woof!
Womble the Therapy Dog Here!
Hey there, pawsome parent! It's me, Womble, your friendly therapy dog. I'm here to help with some top tips to keep your little pup calm and happy. Let's dive into it, arf arf!
Coping and Defence Mechanisms: Are they the same?
In our daily lives, we often hear the terms "coping mechanisms" and "defence mechanisms" used interchangeably.
But are they really the same?
Read on here: Coping and Defence Mechanisms: Are they the same?
Supporting Your Child Through Change: Thinking Of School & Other Important Areas
Change seems to take forever when we want it, and can blindside us when we don’t, or don’t expect it.
Imagine being of an age when sense of time and limited experience of change is still developing?
Change is an inevitable part of life, and school transitions are significant milestones that can profoundly impact your child's relationships with friends, teachers, romantic interests, club leaders, and even family members.
As parents and carers, our support is crucial in helping your child navigate these transitions smoothly. It can all be very important to them in the moment. We thought we’d offer considerations, on how you could support your child through these changes and promote healthy perspectives for both you and your child.
Read Full Blog HERE
Need Some Inspiration For What To Do This Summer?
Suffolk County Council have lot's of Ida's and Advice via their website here: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/youth-support-and-careers-advice-work-experience-and-activities/out-of-school-and-holiday-activities
Low to No Cost Summer Activities
Let your imagination go wild and don't be afraid to get involved!
Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts 🌳 Take a stroll in the park and create a simple scavenger hunt with items like leaves, rocks, and flowers.
DIY Art Projects 🎨 Use household items like old magazines, cardboard boxes, and crayons to create art. Collages, painting rocks, and homemade playdough are fun options.
Story Time Adventures 📚 Visit the local library for story time or borrow books. You can also have a cozy reading session at home with their favourite stories.
Water Play Fun 💦 Set up a small water table, kiddie pool, or just use buckets and cups for water play in the backyard. Simple and refreshing!
Obstacle Course Challenge 🏃♂️ Create an obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and toys. It's a great way to burn off energy and practice motor skills.
Something a little more with Teens in Mind
Volunteer Work 🌍 Encourage teens to volunteer at local community centres, animal shelters, or parks. It's a rewarding experience and a great way to give back. They may even get lucky and find small paid part time work. Either way, there's great experiences to be had.
Photography Projects 📸 Let them explore photography with a phone or camera. They can create themed photo series or start a summer photo journal. It may be a way to get out together to new places, or something they can do with their friends or indepenadtly.
DIY Craft Workshops 🛠️ Organise crafting sessions with materials like beads, strings, and fabric. Friendship bracelets, homemade jewellery, and customised t-shirts are fun to make.
Outdoor Sports and Games 🏀 Encourage them to play basketball, soccer, or organise a friendly sports tournament/meet at nearby park/playing field. It's a fun way to stay active and socialise.
Cooking and Baking Experiments 🍪 Let them try out new recipes or have a baking day. They can make cookies, cupcakes, or even simple meals for the family.
Some ideas for all;
Family Movie Nights 🎬 Set up an outdoor movie night with a projector or simply have a cozy indoor movie marathon with popcorn and snacks.
Picnic in the Park 🧺 Pack a picnic basket and head to a local park. Bring along games like frisbee, badminton, or a deck of cards.
Stargazing Evenings ✨ On a clear night, lay out blankets and look at the stars. Use a stargazing app to identify constellations and planets.
Gardening Together 🌱 Start a small garden in your backyard or even use pots for an indoor garden. Plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables outside and watch them grow. Or organise small building or creative projects in the garden.
DIY Science Experiments 🧪 Conduct simple science experiments at home. Vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, homemade slime, and DIY lava lamps are exciting and educational.
These activities provide endless fun and valuable bonding time without breaking the bank. Enjoy your summer!
Did You Know?
The summer can easily bring out the happiest of thoughts and feelings, shining away any shadow of negativity. But that's not the case for everyone...
A UK study in 2022 found that teenagers' mental health can decline during summer holidays due to the lack of routine and social interaction provided by school. This was also true for primary school children. Children and teens from low-income families are more likely to be affected it appears, but anyone can find themselves affected by this. Affected children may experience more emotional and behavioural issues during and after the summer break as a result.
Some local high schools in Suffolk & Essex have reported to us that children transitioning to high school are struggling more with mental health, leading to an increase in general behavioural and safeguarding incidents compared to previous years.
To support your child's mental well-being during the summer, maintain a balanced routine and encourage social activities. Keeping a structured schedule can provide the stability needed for a smoother transition back to school or to a new school.
And remember, if something feels unusual, is upsetting and it persists, don't hesitate to contact a GP or Mental Health Professional.
Any of us at any age can have off days, but if it happens each day, and it isn't getting better after a while, much like a physical illness, it's good to speak with a professional.
Do you want to link our blogs to your school or organisational website?
This Newsletter and Blog is for the general public domain. All we ask is you request our logo to use on your site if wanted, and reference the blog link/page.
Some Summer Humour
As Adults...
Even when things feel as awful or worse than that joke, we can make light of the day-to-day demands of adulthood and holding the weight of things. But, sometimes we can use humour to mask genuine struggle.
It might be your child struggling, for which we're here to help. But it might also be yourself struggling, and that's why we also have therapists qualified to work with adults, with some working with adults only.
TMH, here for children, teens... and the adults who look after them.
How can therapy with TMH help you or someone you care about?
Read some examples and feedback from those we've helped before, and if you think we might be the right help for you, we can advise on the rest.
