Choose an inclusion & diversity topic for more information
Mental Health
Your responsibility as a volunteer is to ensure that all members can access Girlguiding activities in the most suitable way for them, taking any individual mental health difficulties into account
Useful Contacts
Email inclusion@ggsw.org.uk for more equality, diversity and inclusion advice
Girlguiding Resources
Girlguiding mental health training (approx. 35 mins)
What should you do if a member of your unit is showing signs of poor mental health?
- Signs that someone is struggling with their mental health
- Starting a conversation about mental health
- Talking to parents and carers when you have a concern
- Supporting members with their mental health
- Supporting members on trips and visits
- Supporting members in crisis
Adjustment plans
If you know someone in the unit can struggle with their mental health
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Ask them to sit with you in a quiet area (you can involve their parent/guardian if they think this would be helpful)
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Ask them what would help them with their mental health in the unit
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Ask them what could trigger bad mental health in the unit
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Ask them if they would like you to adapt anything in the unit for them
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Ask them to tell you the warning signs that may suggest they’re struggling
These adjustment plans should be shared with the leadership team and should be reviewed in the future to make sure the adjustments are still relevant.
The member does not need to have a diagnosis of a mental health condition for you to make an adjustment plan.
Programme Links
Rainbow UMAs
Be Well, Pack 9- The Big Blue Whale
Express Myself, Mag (Nov 19)- Hobby-tastic
Brownie UMAs
Be Well, Pack 2- My Invisible Bubble
Be Well, Pack 8- Competitive Car Park
Guide UMAs
Be Well, Pack 9- Checking In
Be Well, Mag (Nov 19)- No doubt
Be Well, Mag (Nov 18)- Comfort for your discomfort
Ranger UMAs
Be Well, Mag (March 19)- Switch Off
Know Myself, Pack 9- I’m Worth It
Skills For My Future, Mag (July 20)- Tidy Space, Tidy Mind
Skills Builders
Stage 1
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Be Well, First Aid- Colour My Mood
Stage 2
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Stage 3
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Be Well, First Aid- Are You Okay?
Stage 4
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Be Well, First Aid- Take a Moment
Stage 5
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Know Myself, Reflect- 2B Or Not 2B?
Stage 6
Be Well, Feel Good (General)
Peer Educator Sessions
Think resilient
Resilience helps members cope when they are faced with the stresses of everyday life – whether that’s in their schools, families or friendship groups – so that they can have fun, take new opportunities and have good mental wellbeing.
Book a session for your Brownies, Guides or Rangers by following this link
Free being me
Free Being Me is a body confidence programme for Brownies and Guides. Sessions help girls recognise myths about how girls and women ‘should’ look and be happy in their own skin.
Book a session for your Brownies, Guides or Rangers by following this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9RDZ26C
Top tips
- Never have a conversation with a young member alone in a private room, you should always make sure a friend of theirs or a member of the leadership team is with you
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Never assume someone does not have any mental health problems just because they look happy – masking symptoms is very common
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Mental health problems are not always obvious, you might spot them through irritable behaviour, frustration, self-deprecation / sudden behaviour changes
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Never assume what someone else needs, if you don’t know ask them or ask someone who can advocate for them
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Always contact your district commissioner or the mental health inclusion team member at Girlguiding Surrey West if you need further advice
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Keep a detailed written record of any concerns in case you need to send a report into the safeguarding team