Supporting social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing

The support we offer here at Amica S,L & CC is pretty specialised. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not broad. One day I can be supporting someone with complex needs with eye gaze technology (more to come on that soon!) and the next working on high functioning language and social, emotional and behavioural needs!

Both AAC (alternative and augmentative communication) and social skills have been an area of specialism for me for nearly 10 years but the importance of Speech and Language Therapists being involved in supporting social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing has not been recognised as much as it is now. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists have now published a Factsheet all about this – I have taken some of the stats for you to take a look at; you may be surprised!

  • One in 10 children and young people aged younger than 16 have a mental health disorder

  • In addition, approximately a further 15% have less severe problems that put them at risk of developing mental health problems in the future

  • 81% of children with emotional and behavioural disorders have significant language deficits

  • People with a primary communication impairment are at greater risk of a secondary mental health disorder, commonly anxiety or depression

  • Between 40% and 54% of children with behaviour problems have language impairment

I use a range of approaches: The Zones of Regulation, Social Skills packages, elements of NLP and CBT, confidence building as well as conversational skills and practise to boost children, young people and adults skills in this area.

Feel free to give me a call or email if you want to know more or if you think I could help someone you know.