Creating
Mentally Healthy
Schools

With deep community trust and first-hand knowledge of the issues girls and families face, we work with 25 local schools to shape lasting, systemic change.

"The Mental Health Network consistently demonstrate a very special combination - a relentless desire for learning and growth, alongside a real willingness to genuinely pause and evaluate current practice. In my experience this is an unusual combination and one that I credit Sunbeams for having created.”

Dr Lisa Shosta k, Associate Lecturer / Senior Clinical Tutor,
CYP-MH Programmes, Kings College London

Mental Health Network

Sunbeams has created a dynamic ‘community of practice’, where headteachers, pastoral leads, and SENCOs share insights, tackle challenges, and co-create practical strategies for mentally healthy schools.

Our immersive, awareness-raising, and skills-building workshops have become a lifeline for school staff. Powered by people with lived experience, sessions cover essential topics in a hands-on learning environment - ensuring staff are equipped and supported to help every pupil thrive.

Mental Health Network Trainings are delivered by Dr Lisa Shostak as a three-part series twice per year.


Enquire about joining our next training or hosting an inset for your staff on one of our previously explored topics.

May 2025
Supporting the development of Emotional Regulation / Early Intervention for anxiety and low mood

Session 1 - Core Concepts and Evidence
This session will focus on the evidence base for supporting children and young people to develop helpful emotional regulation skills, and reducing the risk of them developing anxiety and depression
 
Session 2 - Applying these principles in practice
Learning to enhance resilience and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression in children and young people

Session 3 - Applying these principles in practice
Learning to enhance resilience and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression in children and young people

November 2024
Behaviour Management

Session 1 - The fundamental principles of behavioural change (Primary and Secondary Schools)

Session 2 - Primary School
Behaviour change for primary school aged children Session 3 - Secondary Schools – Behaviour change for secondary school aged children

May 2024
From Struggle to Success - Working as a team around a child

Session 1 - From struggle to success
Working alongside other professionals in helping children and young people who are struggling emotionally to reach their full potential

Session 2 - Primary Schools: From struggle to success
Developing our skills and expanding our tool kit

Session 3 - Secondary Schools - From struggle to success
Developing our skills and expanding our tool kit.

November 2023
Supporting Pupils with Parental Mental Ill Health

Session 1 - Mental Ill-health
What we know, what we don’t and starting to identify ways we can help

Session 2 - Parental Mental Health Difficulties and the impact on family life

Session 3 - What can schools do to best support children and young people impacted by parental mental health difficulties?

May 2023
Supporting Pupils with Adverse Childhood Experiences

Session 1 - Adverse Childhood Experiences
What support do young people need?

Session 2 - Supporting Young People
Part 1: Supporting young people where there is illness and/or disability within the family
Part 2: Supporting young people with grief

Session 3 - A focus on the impact of parental separation and financial struggles

November 2022
ASD and Mental Health

Session 1 - Difficult conversations
Talking to children, young people and their families about the possibility of Autistic Spectrum Conditions and/or the need for an assessment

Session 2 - Autistic Spectrum Conditions and Mental Health
Exploring why young people with ASC are more at risk of developing anxiety and depression and what can we do to support them

Session 3 - Inclusive schools
How do we take a whole school approach to Neurodiversity

Learning is the foundation, action brings transformation.

How we support change in practice

Surgery Days

Once the three part training series is over, schools can schedule a 1:1 session to explore their unique needs and create a strategic action plan for implementing learning in their school. These sessions are led by our clinical lead and are free of charge.

Inset Days

It takes a town to raise a child. While our MHN training guides headteachers and SENCO, Inset days ensure all school staff members are confidently equipped to support students’ wellbeing. Led by Dr Lisa, our 3 hour intensive sessions deliver practical tools, guidance and confidence to foster a thriving school environment.

Literature

We’ve developed a range of clear, informative leaflets covering key mental health topics. Available in both print and digital formats, these resources offer trusted, easy-to-access guidance that schools can turn to whenever support is needed.

IWaS-Improving Wellbeing at Schools

The Improving Wellbeing at Schools (IWAS) initiative is a close partnership between Sunbeams and local girls’ schools, designed to strengthen mental health support across the school community. Through IWAS, Sunbeams shares its specialist knowledge and frontline experience to help schools develop more responsive, coordinated and preventative approaches to pupil wellbeing.

Each participating school works with the IWAS clinician through a structured cycle of audit, implementation and reflection. Monthly sessions with school leadership explore current practice, identify gaps, and support the introduction of practical changes. While every school’s journey is shaped by its own culture, systems and needs, the clinician is also able to identify common patterns across schools, enabling learning and insights to be shared across the wider community.

Typically, IWAS works intensively with five to six schools each year, with a strong focus on prevention and early identification. Common areas of development include centralising mental health monitoring so concerns are recognised earlier, strengthening collaboration between pastoral and academic staff, and introducing relational programmes and social and emotional learning (SEL) approaches that nurture positive student–teacher relationships and emotional resilience.

1,796

Pupils impacted in 2025

6

New school systems implemented in 2025

69

Staff members trained to support pupil wellbeing & Mental Health

What keeps us glowing:

“The project is a fantastic example of the way in which health and education can work together in a truly collaborative way - leading to meaningful positive change for young people and their families… It is community-led, evidence-based psychological practice at its very best.”

Dr Lisa Shostak


We’ve seen real changes both in staff development and in how the students are doing in school.

Rachel Y
SENCO


The new central logging system created as a result of IWAS is the most powerful achievement in our school’s recent history

Yocheved Z.
Headteacher

School shapes her day. Sunbeams ensures it positively shapes her future.