Resources and support for schools, colleges and other professionals

Includes campaigns and resources for schools and other professionals.

• Bricks for 26 – smartphone-free schools
• Just Talk Week
• Resources and support for professionals 
• Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey
• Youth Ambassador Programme
• Join the Just Talk professional network

Just Talk Week

The third week of November is Just Talk Week. Each year we develop campaigns themed around an identified need to support the mental health and wellbeing of Hertfordshire Young people.

Within the campaign is information, activities and signposting for schools and partners to get involved in.

Resources and support for professionals 

• Five Ways to Wellbeing – toolkit for schools and professionals
• The Stress Bucket is a great classroom or 1-1 activity to help students identify what is contributing to their feelings, and how they can start to release the stress or pressure building as a result. 
• Not attending school or college due to anxiety (EBSNA)
• Classroom wellbeing toolkit (Anna Freud) – a toolkit for secondary school staff, sharing practical steps to support mental health through every day interactions with students.
• My Teen brain – for professionals (PDF, 934KB) – information to help support a teen through some of the most important years of their life.
• Neurodiversity Support Hub (ADD-vance) – support for parents, carers and professionals with signposting and guidance around Special Educational Needs and mental health.
• Just Talk Communications and Engagement Partnership Plan 2021-26 (PDF, 1.4MB)

Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey

This is a bi-annual survey for mainstream schools and an annual survey for SEND schools. The surveys run November to December and results are shared in the following February.

The survey collects young people-reported information on a host of health and wellbeing topics, including physical activity, sexual health and mental health.

Results from previous surveys (mainstream)

SEND Young People Health and Wellbeing Survey Report

Youth Ambassador Programme

This programme is about empowering young people to lead the way in promoting wellbeing across their schools as well as working closely with us (JustTalk, WithYouth, HCT SEND Mental Health Support Team, Signpost and The Sandbox) to have influence and make change in the mental health support offered to all young people.

We run the programme each academic year, providing yearly opportunities for schools and new cohorts of young people to champion mental health through youth voice and encouraging a whole-school approach to mental wellbeing.

Registration of interest to be selected for next academic year will open in the summer term 2027. Contact us at ambassadors@hertfordshire.gov.uk for further information. 

Join the Just Talk professional network

If you're an organisation in Hertfordshire and you'd like to get involved in the Just Talk project, which has a network of more than 40 professional partners,  email us at justtalk@hertfordshire.gov.uk to register your interest.