Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
What is a Mental Health Support Team (MHST)?
Schools play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people at a time when they are experiencing lots of physical, emotional and social changes. Nationally, Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) have been introduced within schools to provide an additional source of support to young people and their families.
In Bristol and South Gloucestershire, the MHST programme is being delivered in partnership between Off the Record (OTR) and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP). An MHST is a trained team made up of a Clinical Lead, Team Managers, Supervisors and Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). The team works with schools to support young people who are struggling with their thoughts and feelings.
What does the MHST offer?
Whole School Approach
EMHPs also work to deliver something called a “whole-school approach” to mental health, which aims to promote emotional wellbeing, identify emotional and mental health needs early and provide support to those who need it. This involves loads of different activities to raise awareness of how students, parents and staff can support wellbeing. This can include assemblies, running psychoeducational groups, parent workshops, wellbeing boards and providing training for school staff.
1:1 CBT Sessions
An EMHP can work with students to supporting them to manage anxiety, low mood and behaviour. Sometimes this work is with the parent/carer, delivering Parent-Led interventions to help parents support their children’s mental health.
Sometimes this work is with a parent/carer by delivering something called Parent-Led interventions, providing parents with new ideas for support their children’s mental health.
What would I do in 1-1 sessions with my EMHP?
Your EMHP will focus on helping you use a type of therapy called LICBT
What is LI-CBT?
LI-CBT stands for Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Low Intensity refers to this being support that doesn’t last very long, usually 6-8 sessions.
‘Cognitive’ refers to our thoughts.
‘Behavioural’ refers to our actions.
‘Therapy’ refers to talking about and learning about ways to feel better.
CBT looks at our thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviours and how these are all linked. When we feel low or anxious, we can get into a pattern of negative or unhelpful thoughts, feelings and
behaviours. By identifying and understanding these, LI-CBT helps us to break this cycle by starting to think and do things differently and eventually feel better.
What should I expect in LI-CBT?
· Weekly 45-minute sessions for 6-8 weeks
· Personal goals to help focus on what you want to achieve
· Regular questionnaires to help understand how you’re feeling and track changes
· Learning new skills to help cope with different situations
· Setting tasks to practice these new skills at home
How can I see the EMHP in my school for 1-1 sessions?
· Speak to a trusted member of staff in school about getting some support. The school will reach out to us, and we’ll discuss how to best support you.
What will happen when I get referred to MHST?
· When you are referred to the MHST, you will be contacted by our EMHP to book a ‘Meet and Greet’ session. This meeting is your opportunity to find out more about what we do and how we do it. We will complete some forms and go over what you can expect when working with the MHST.
Get in touch with the MHST:
Email: mhstenquires@otrbristol.org.uk
Phone: 01174038735
Additional Signposting
Empire Fighting Chance: empirefightingchance
Empire Fighting Chance offer a Box Therapy programme. The programme is designed to support young people aged 8 to 25 in overcoming mental health challenges, it combines non-contact boxing with therapeutic support, delivered by our team of therapists.
OTR: otrbristol
OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-25 living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. They offer a range of workshops, hubs and one-to-one counselling.
Parents and Carers South Glos: sgpc
Parents and Carers South Glos are a local parent carer forum working to support and represent parent carers of children and young people (aged 0-25) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They provide a range of workshops, drop-ins and play groups.
Childline: childline
0800 1111, lines are open from 9am-3:30am every day.
One to one online chat with counsellors, open 9am-10:30pm every day.
Young Minds Crisis Messenger
Offers crisis support. Text YM to 85258, available every day
Papyrus Hopeline
Support for young people thinking about suicide. Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860039967, available 9am-12am daily.
Samaritans
Emotional support for all ages. Call 116 123, available 24/7
NHS
Non-emergency advice about mental health. Call 111, available 24/7
Happy Maps
Children and young people’s mental health advice and resources. For parents, professionals and young peoples
Family Lives
A website for parents and carers. Use the online chat or call the confidential helpline for advice and support: 0808 800 2222
CAMHS 24/7 Emergency Response Line
For young people experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, or parent/carer of a young person experiencing an immediate mental health crisis
0800 9539599 (24hrs, 7 days a week)
Access and Response Team
The Access and Response Team (ART) are the “front door” of children’s and young peoples’ services in the council. The ART team will gather information about any concerns and determine the next appropriate steps.
01454 866000 (office hours)01454 615165 (out of hours / weekends)
Office hours are Monday to Thursday 9.00 – 5.00 and Friday 9:00-4.30
mhst li cbt leaflet 2026 1 .pdf