World Mental Health Day, October 10th 2019
Chances are you’ll know at least one person who is struggling. Understanding how to look after ourselves and each other is crucial for our wellbeing.
In school we marked the day by posing a mental health and wellbeing related question as a starter to each lesson for students to discuss. Students looked at issues such as the impact (good and bad) of technology on mental health; the importance of sleep, exercise and eating the right foods; finding a good study & life balance; common types of mental health disorders; the stigma associated with mental health; looking out for our friends; and what we do or can do to be healthy inside and out.
Assemblies
The mental health and wellbeing themes have been further explored in our Key Stage 4 assembly today and this will continue into next week with our Key Stage 3 assembly on Monday.
Wellbeing Matters – October 15th
Tuesday, 15th October sees our ‘Wellbeing Matters’ off-timetable day and Parent Zone will be here to present to our parents, students and staff about looking after our mental health online. Parents are invited to the parent session from 8:15am-9:00am in the Senior Library. The presentation will focus on identifying some of the challenges to young people’s mental health and wellbeing online; recognising how the online world can support young people’s mental health and wellbeing; and signposting support for their children online.
Introduction of Mindfulness in PSHE
This term, we have introduced a new aspect to our PSHE lessons – mindfulness training and practice. Being aware of how your mind works give you choices and helps you choose to be in control of it, avoid distractions and focus on the ‘now’. Many of our students are telling us how much they appreciate these sessions and how these are helping them to be more aware, more focused and more able to manage stress in a positive way.
Norah Buckley & Kari Ellis
Assistant Head, Safeguarding and Child Protection & Assistant Head, Pastoral