This session is part of a set of training sessions on pupil mental health. We recommend you start with our session on deepening understanding of pupil mental health, then deliver the sessions on specific issues. The other specific issues we have training sessions on are:

• Self-harm and suicidal ideation
• Depression

Learning objectives

In this session, staff will learn:

• What anxiety is and when it becomes a concern
• How to spot potential signs of problematic anxiety
• How to support pupils with anxiety
• How to respond in the moment if a pupil has a panic attack

What's in this training session?

Developed with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, this training session includes:

• A ready-to-deliver PowerPoint presentation you can adapt to suit your school
• Step-by-step facilitator notes
• Activities to help staff put what they're learning into practice and encourage group discussion
• Voiceover – to explain what anxiety is
• Answers to common questions, to help you prepare for questions your staff may have 

1. Download the PowerPoint presentation, facilitator notes, group activities, common questions and audio transcript 
2. Decide whether your staff need in-depth training, or more of an overview
• If you want to cover this topic in depth, use all the slides and activities. The session should last 45 minutes if you do this
• If you want to give staff more of an overview, miss out the activities. The session will last 20 minutes if you do this
3. Work through the facilitator notes. They tell you everything you need to know to prepare and deliver the PowerPoint presentation effectively, including what slides to use or delete to run this session in 45 minutes or 20 minutes. You’ll need these to hand when presenting