Rising anxiety among children since the pandemic has prompted Forthill Primary School to draft in external mental health workers.
The Broughty Ferry school arranged training for teachers in how to help youngsters deal with worries.
Parents are also to be advised on supporting their children at a special session later this month.
Both Forthill and neighbouring Barnhill Primary School have sought the help of mental health and wellbeing support service NEW Solutions.
Forthill head teacher Alison Macgregor told parents: “Since the pandemic, we have become aware of increasing levels of anxiety among our pupils.
“Some of this may be evident in school, but some we know is only apparent at home.”
Staff at the two Broughty Ferry schools were trained in dealing with anxiety during an in-service day on Thursday, and Mrs Macgregor invited Forthill parents and carers to a similar session in school on November 23.
She said: “We hope this will be a useful session for any parent or carer who would like to learn more about how to help children build resilience and deal with anxiety.”
Who are NEW Solutions and what do they do?
Montrose-based NEW Solutions is a community interest company which promotes awareness of mental health and wellbeing in schools, community organisations and businesses, and already works with 11 schools in Angus.
Director Gail Penman said anxiety was being reported among more children than was previously.
But she said: “I don’t know if that’s because we are better at spotting things, or responding to what people need.”
A cognitive behavioural therapist, she said her aim was to empower teachers and parents – those closest to the children – to give the support, rather than relying on a specialist.
“Anxiety is normal,” she said, “we need to not make it a condition.
We try to get kids to realise that thoughts and feelings are connected. If they want that feeling to change, they change the thought.”
Gail Penman, New Solutions director
“We don’t want to banish it and make it go away. It’s something that serves us well, it helps us perform.”
But she explained people need to understand the difference between normal levels of anxiety and cases where help is required.
One technique she uses is teaching adults how to let children ‘ride it out’ rather than ‘bail them out’, so children realise the source of their anxiety wasn’t as bad as they expected, or that their feelings were part of excitement.
She said: “In the workshops we do, we try to get kids to realise that thoughts and feelings are connected.
“If they want that feeling to change, they change the thought.”
As well as training and workshops, NEW Solutions also provides therapeutic interventions for individuals and groups.
Conversation