Online safety

The BBC reports that the government is considering giving powers to fine video-sharing apps and websites to Ofcom the UK's media regulator. The proposal would see Ofcom able to impose multi-million pound fines if it judges the platforms have failed to prevent children and young people seeing pornography, violence and other harmful material. According to the report Ofcom would take charge of the matter from 19 September 2020.

Link accessed 19-08-19

"Counseling With Guided Use of a Mobile Well-Being App for Students Experiencing Anxiety or Depression: Clinical Outcomes of a Feasibility Trial Embedded in a Student Counseling Service"

Background: Anxiety and depression continue to be prominent experiences of students approaching their university counseling service. These services face unique challenges to ensure that they continue to offer quality support with fewer resources to a growing student population. The convenience and availability of mobile phone apps offer innovative solutions to address therapeutic challenges and expand the reach of traditional support.

"This blended approach in our study was shown to be acceptable and feasible and showed potential to maintain clinical improvement on anxiety following the completion of brief counseling"

Link 15-08-19

"Young, British and Depressed: we need way more TV like this"

Pressurised GPs often prescribe antidepressants to young people in the interim. Many may find the medication helpful. However, as one GP interviewed said, it is “far from ideal” – and this echoes the majority view.

Of 1,000 UK GPs surveyed in the show, 86% agreed that the prescribing of antidepressants has increased due to problems accessing specialist services. Only 1% feel this is the best treatment for depression. In fact, only one type of antidepressant has been shown to be effective and recommended as a treatment for depression in children and adolescents. Dr James Davies, a psychotherapist and mental health researcher, explained how withdrawing from antidepressants can often take longer than the seven days stated in clinical guidelines. A young man spoke of his months-long experience of “brain zaps”. The guidelines are currently being updated

Link to Guardian article 06-08-19

"Save the Children's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Policy Position"

This policy position sets out principles for Save the Children's advocacy as it relates to the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE). It aims to better protect the rights of children who are seen as not conforming to conventional norms relating to SOGIE. The SOGIE policy and Gender Equality Policy are mutually supportive—the SOGIE policy provides additional guidance for staff implementing the movement-wide Gender Equality Policy.

Article

https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/15414/pdf/save_the_children_sexual_orientation_gender_identity_policy_position.pdf

Link

"Relationships, health and sex education statutory guidance: CASPAR briefing"

Last updated: 28 Jun 2019

Summary of key points

Our briefing sets out a summary of the key points covered in the guidance, including

• developing a policy
• content of relationships education, sex education and health education in primary and secondary schools
• parents' rights to withdraw
• whole school approach
• safeguarding
• information for parents.

The DfE recognises the need for teachers in to be trained to deliver high quality Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education, and is committed to supporting state funded schools to deliver teaching around these subjects in a coordinated and coherent way across the curriculum (DfE, 2019b).

Link

"Best practice for supporting bereaved children who have SEND"

"Sarah Helton, a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teacher from South Somerset, travelled to Denmark, Norway and the USA to investigate best practice in supporting bereaved children who have SEND."

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust - accessed 29-06-19

For full report - 

Link

Gender and sexual identity - NSPCC

"Childline carried out 6,014 counselling sessions with children and young people about issues relating to gender and sexuality last year - on average 16 a day¹.

Childline figures from the past 12 months show:

• 12 to 15-year-olds were the most common age group to contact Childline about gender and sexual identity
• 409 of the counselling sessions were with 11-year-olds or younger
• an approximately 80% increase in the number of views of its gender identity webpage in the last year²."

Link accessed 10-06-19