What is REACT?

REACT has been developed by the MYA RAISE Team to support young people in schools with their mental health and wellbeing.

REACT programmes follow a train-the-trainer model, in which professionals are trained to deliver the programme in their setting, making it more sustainable and easier to manage.

Created initially for educational professionals, the programmes have expanded to include external staff (MHSTs, EMHPs, School Nurses, and YPAS Wellbeing Clinicians) in the training to have a WSA approach to the programme.

Background of REACT:

REACT has been designed in response to feedback from staff members within education who feel that although staff time, capacity, and resources are limited, they’d like more programmes they can roll out that are ready to run with a group of young people that don’t take too much time to prepare.

While developing REACT, we have consulted with young people and pastoral staff members across the city to gather their feedback in shaping this course; the information and resources contained in this course will help you support the children and young people you work with.

How it works:

REACT aims to equip trainers to deliver five sessions across a five week block to a group of around six-ten young people.

The sessions are informed by cognitive, behavioural, and compassion therapy, especially in response to exploring thoughts, feelings and behaviour patterns around the specific REACT topic.

Each session is designed to last around 50 minutes, so they can easily be slotted into the school day or adopted in other youth settings.

REACT: Anxiety

Recognise Anxiety / Examine Thoughts / Avoid Avoiding / Coping Strategies / Take Steps

• Equip young people with the psycho-education around anxiety.
• Allow young people to explore what makes them anxious.
• Explore what things can help us when we get anxious.
• Look into how anxiety affects our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical symptoms.
• Enable young people to reflect on their learning on how anxiety affects them and useful tips and tools going forwards.