Our Schools and Colleges Early Support Service ensures students aged 11-25 get the right mental health support at the right time. With one-to-one support sessions for students, plus support for staff, parents and carers, we'll help your whole secondary school or college be mentally healthy. 

The service provides:  

• timely one-to-one sessions for students experiencing mild-to-moderate mental health difficulties like depression, anxiety  and anger 

• online consultations and on-demand training and development videos for staff 

• one-to-one consultations and live webinars for parents and carers  

• support from specialist practitioners with clinical expertise  

• evidence-based approaches informed by the latest research.

Parent Testimony

"As a regular participant of The Anna Freud Sessions, I have benefited hugely from the chance to share and reflect on the challenges lockdown has posed for both my child and us as a family. The lack of routine and the need to balance homework with online classes has been trying for everyone. Lesley, the session host, is understanding, knowledgeable and reassuring. She has listened to and understood the difficulties we are facing, beyond just the usual experiences of homeschooling family life. She has a deep understanding of the complexities of children with differing needs, and has been a useful guide through some of the most challenging times.

Meeting with other parents has opened up the shared experience of having a child at Keyham Lodge, the unspoken understanding that education settings may have been difficult places for us due to the often common issues our children have. We have spent time learning from each other, sharing coping strategies and using the space to vent frustrations caused by extended lockdown.

"I very much hope that the roll-out of the sessions can continue and that this invaluable asset reaches many more parents."

School Testimony

Rahi Popat says: “We have seen our most hard-to-reach parents and carers access the support service available, and they have spoken very positively about the support they have received.

“Staff across the school have chosen to access teacher wellbeing consultations to help them during these very challenging times for the education sector, noticing that the trained support available is of great assistance to them right now.

“It has proved to be a safe space, an open platform and a source of support for everyone connected to the school community.”