This Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) Mental Health Support Teams in Schools (MHSTs) service is encouraging every school in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) to start a conversation with children and young people about mental health and the role a sense of belonging plays.

The national theme for the week, set by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, is “this is my place”. It encourages children to explore where and with whom they feel they belong. Over the course of the week, which runs from Monday 9 February – Sunday 15 February 2026, teachers in every school across LLR have been asked to use a toolkit which has been sent by the MHST service, to explore the theme and ensure all children know how and where they can get local mental health help and support if they need it.

LPT’s MHST educational mental health practitioners (EMHPs) and Healthy Together school nurses will also be running workshops and activities with children and young people during the week.

Jessica Walford, clinical lead for the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s MHST service, said: “We wanted to make sure every school in the area was given support to be able to have these important conversations about mental health with their students.

‘This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week emphasises how important it is for children and young people to feel a sense of belonging. When children and young people feel safe, accepted, and that they truly belong, they are more likely to build confidence and develop healthy emotional skills. This can lead to greater engagement and better outcomes for children and young people.”

The MHST’s trained professionals work in schools to support and offer early intervention treatment for children experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. EMPHs can help children struggling with anxiety, low mood, sleep difficulties and worry – as well as working with parents to help build their child’s resilience and support their emotional wellbeing. They also provide advice on how schools can improve their environment and approach to support all students and teachers’ emotional wellbeing.

The service, which is part of a national NHS England roll-out, is currently based in over 250 schools in LLR, supporting over 129,000 children and young people.

All schools that are not currently part of the MHST programme can still use of the toolkit and are encouraged to register their interest if they want to join a future MHST cohort. It is hoped all schools in LLR will be supported by a MHST by 2029/30.

As well as sharing the toolkit, the MHST service also worked with other LPT teams, the Healthy Together school nursing service and partner health organisations to set up a new webpage to bring together local support and advice for mums, dads and carers to aid them in their role as a parent. The page, which includes:

  • tips to support children’s health and wellbeing
  • links to useful websites, courses, support services and apps
  • signposting to support for young people
  • where to go for specialist support for certain conditions or situations
  • where parents can go to get support for their own wellbeing.

It can be visited by going to: https://lptnhs.com/SupportForParents .

Jessica added: “Parenting can be challenging, and it is not always easy to know where to turn for advice and support. There is help available. We have worked hard to gather information about the key local services and have brought it together in one place to make it easier for parents and carers to access.”

The webpage covers the following services – and more.

Support services available to help children, young people and parents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Togetherness

Formerly known as the Solihull Approach, Togetherness offers a range of free, accessible learning courses to help everyone understand more about brain development, emotional wellbeing and parenting for healthier relationships and happier lives. Use the access code: CURVE to sign up.

Healthy Together school nursing service

The Healthy Together school nursing and health visiting service can provide advice and support on lots of topics such as: sleep, healthy lifestyle, relationships, emotional and mental health, anxiety and worry, understanding anger, self-harm, low mood and much more.

As well as accessing the service through school, parents and carers of all children up to 11-years-old living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland – and young people aged 11-19 in Leicester –  can contact a school nurse or health professional using the following services:

  • By calling the Healthy Together Helpline on 0300 300 3001. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.
  • By texting ChatHealth on: 07520  615381, for those who live in Leicester and 07520  615 382, for parents and carers in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Health for Kids website

The Health for Kids website includes areas for both primary school aged children and their parents and carers. It includes interactive games and articles covering topics such as healthy minds, healthy bodies, health issues and where to get professional help and support. All content has been produced by NHS school nurses and a whole range of other health and wellbeing experts. Visit www.healthforkids.co.uk/ for more.

Health for Teens website

Young people can visit www.healthforteens.co.uk/ for advice and support on topics such as health, feelings, growing up, lifestyle, relationships, sexual health and where to go for local help. All articles and videos have been developed by trusted NHS school nurses and health and wellbeing experts.

Tellmi

Tellmi is a free peer support app. Tellmi is anonymous, but all posts and replies are pre-moderated by humans, so it is completely safe. Search Tellmi on your local app store to download the app.

My Self Referral

The website offers free, safe and confidential mental health support, available to young people up to 18 living in Leicester Leicestershire or Rutland. It contains information about self-care and young people can complete a self-referral form to be considered for further mental health support from specialist services, including MHSTs. Visit www.myselfreferral-llr.nhs.uk/

Teen Health Service

The Teen Health service is for young people aged 11 to 19 who live in or attend school in Leicestershire and Rutland. Visit www.teenhealth.org.uk/ to find out more.

Chat Autism

Chat Autism offers confidential support over text messaging for autistic people and their parents/carers/families or allies living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The service is available on weekdays, apart from bank holidays. Text 07312 277097.

 

To find out more about the MHST service and see a full list of the schools who are signed up to the programme, go to: https://lptnhs.com/MHSTPrimary or https://lptnhs.com/MHSTTeensLeicester

Children, young people and parents or carers at a school with an MHST can speak with their school’s mental health lead to be referred or can self-refer for support online.

Anyone who needs urgent mental health support can call NHS 111 and press option 2. Always call 999 if a life is in danger.