Welcome to Place2Be's Mental Health Ecosystem. Here, you can find lots of useful information that will help you navigate through your Mental Health Ecosystem journey.

What is the Mental Health Ecosystem?

Place2Be’s Mental Health Ecosystem is a pilot programme up to 18 months long. We flex the timeframe of some programmes to meet the needs of your school. Our partner, Morgan Stanley, have generously funded a set number of places on this programme. Any funded places are available to eligible schools on a first come, first served basis.

The programme will help you develop a whole-school approach to mental health, and your school will benefit from a dedicated Place2Be consultant.

Our Ecosystem programme is aimed at adults in the school community, including Senior Mental Health Leads, teachers, school staff, parents and carers. It’s an online model and all elements are delivered virtually.

Benefits for your school

There are lots of benefits for your school, including:

• support for your Senior Mental Health Lead to develop a whole school approach to mental health
• continuing professional development (CPD) training for school staff through our Mental Health Champions - Foundation programme
• our Place2Think group reflective space for school staff, led by a consultant clinician
• practical advice and tips for parents and carers through our Parenting Smart online resources and an online course
• one-to-one consultations with a consultant clinician
• access to a Pupil Wellbeing Survey (8+), delivered by the ImpactEd platform.

Helpful documents

If you want to find out more, you might find our presentation by our consultant clinician helpful.

Programme information and how to book

Access useful resources below and book onto the relevant training programme as your school progresses through the Mental Health Ecosystem journey.

For senior leaders

Senior Mental Health Leads training programme

Our CPD-certified and Department for Education accredited Senior Mental Health Leads training programme will help you to develop a whole-school approach to mental health that benefits all members of your school community.

All schools participating in our Mental Health Ecosystem will be told which Senior Mental Health Leads intake they need to sign up to.

Book onto our Senior Mental Health Leads Programme

Senior Mental Health Leads consultations

Book onto one of our consultations for Senior Mental Health Leads.

For teachers and school staff

Mental Health Champions Foundation programme

Our CPD-certified Mental Health Champions Foundation programme is an award-winning online children's mental health training course developed from our work in schools. The programme aims to:

• enhance professionals’ understanding of children’s mental health
• introduce approaches that foster positive wellbeing for staff and pupils.

Your trainer will let you know when to reach out and make this offer to your teachers and other school-based staff.

When signing up, please make sure you sign up to the GB - Teachers and School Staff version of the course.

Read more and book onto our Mental Health Champions Foundation programme

Place2Think

Our Place2Think programme offers schools and their staff a confidential and safe space to:

• share challenges faced in their roles
• process the emotional impact of working with children and young people with mental health issues
• learn the importance of building relationships for emotional wellbeing
• support their own mental health
• work effectively with the community
• build a peer support network, reducing potential isolation.

The Mental Health Ecosystem team will reach out to you directly to set up and schedule your Place2Think group(s) and they will provide you with a booking link.

Find out about our Place2Think programme

For parents and carers

Parenting Smart course

We have created a free online parenting course in partnership with South London and Maudsley-NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM). The course is for parents and carers with children at Place2Be schools or at schools participating in the Mental Health Ecosystem.

Our course will give parents and carers of primary-age children extra tools to deal with everyday parenting challenges and strengthen their relationship with their child. 

Your trainer will let you know when to reach out and make this offer to parents/carers at your school.

Find out more about our Parenting Smart - Online Course

Parenting Smart

Our Parenting Smart website has practical advice and tips for parents and carers of primary-age children to support their wellbeing and behaviour.

Parenting Smart has articles and videos created by Place2Be mental health experts exploring a variety of topics, including:

• friendships
• confidence
• sleep
• behaviour.

Find tips and advice on Parenting Smart