Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. World Health Organisation, 2018.

Positive mental health is a top priority at St Mark’s School. There are a number of ways in which students can be suffering from poor mental health. It is not always easy to determine if somebody is struggling with mental health issues, so we need to work collaboratively to ensure that children always feel comfortable in speaking about their mental health. As a school we have a strong focus on giving students the tools to focus on their wellbeing as shown in the below clip.

5 Steps to Wellbeing Animation

At St Marks’ School we aim to promote good mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community, students and staff.

We aim to develop protective factors by being a community in which all:

●      are respected
●      have a sense of belonging and feel safe
●      are able to talk openly with trusted adults
●      see good mental health as something to be valued and nurtured

We want all members of our community to:

●      feel confident in themselves
●      be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
●      be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others
●      cope with the challenges of everyday life
●      manage times of stress and deal with change
●      thrive and achieve

We aim to achieve this through living out our school vision:

“To promote self-worth that inspires our students to live well, achieve their goals and be a force for good in their school and in the world.”

Other ways in which we aim to achieve this is through:

●      PHSE curriculum
●      Awareness raising (wellbeing assemblies, tips for good mental health)
●      Listening to our students
●      Gaining insights via student voice
●      Working in partnership with parents/carers where there are concerns about mental health
●      Signposting sources of external help and advice
●      Making referrals and working with external agencies to provide additional support to those who need it
●      Recognising the importance of staff mental health and wellbeing
●      Modeling healthy attitudes and habits

Our wellbeing lead looks at ways in which we can support the wellbeing of our school staff and  ways in which we can support the wellbeing of our students.

Key Staff

Useful Information for Parents and Carers

St Mark’s School takes the emotional health and wellbeing of every student seriously. We believe that the school can help students build resilience and support them to be mentally healthy.

We all have ups and downs in life but in childhood it can be particularly hard to cope with sad feelings and worries that arise when things are hard or scary. There may be times when your child is unhappy or struggling emotionally. You may notice that they seem low or worried or that their behaviour changes. We may notice that they seem withdrawn or upset at school.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health then you are not alone. Many parents and carers have similar worries and stresses. There is good support available from local and national organisations.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

The leaflet: Mental health problems in children and young people: guidance for parents and carers provides some useful tips for helping your student plus links to local and national services.

Local Services for Children and Young People

St Mark’s School

Please talk to us about your concerns, so that we can work together to help your child feel better. You can contact the Heads of the Key Stages: sleonard@st-marks.org.uk or cquirk@st-marks.org.uk

Your GP

A GP can check any physical symptoms linked to your child’s health and talk with you about their emotional well-being making a referral to a specialist service if necessary.

The School Nurse

Parents/carers can contact the Bath and North East Somerset School Nurse Service for advice and support on a range of health issues.

Student and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

A free NHS service that assesses and treats 0-18-year olds with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.

Kooth

Children and young people aged 11 and over are also able to access support themselves from B&NES Kooth. This provides links to advice as well as online counseling.

Off the Record

Counselling service for young people.

Emotional Difficulties

The following organisations provide reliable information and advice to help parent/carers to support their child when experiencing emotional difficulties:-

Young Minds: Help for Parents

Information about all aspects of student mental health, including a Parent Helpline 0800 802 5544

Childline 0800 1111

Lots of information and tips for children of all ages about feelings and difficult situations.

Minded for Families

Free learning resource about mental health for parents and carers

Happy Maps

Lots of information about health topics including mental health, organised under different age groups including secondary age and young adults

Looking After Your Own Mental Health

In order to support your child, you need to stay strong and well yourself. It isn’t easy being a parent or carer especially when you are experiencing problems of your own such as relationship difficulties, money worries, problems with work. Often it helps to talk to someone, so don’t be scared about doing this, with friends, family, your GP or a support service. The following organisations can also offer information and advice to help you.

The Wellbeing College

Directory and database of groups, activities and courses in the community that can support adult wellbeing.

Talking Therapies

Accessed through GP or self-referral.

MyScript- Social prescribing service

Available to anyone registered with a GP in B&NES. This service provides support in finding specialist services and community groups to help individuals experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues to take control of their situation.

Bath Mind

Tel: 01225 316199

Samaritans

 

Tel: free 116 123

NHS Choices: moodzone

Helps manage stress, anxiety, depression.

CALM

Campaign against living miserably

Agencies and Services to Support Parents and Carers in Vulnerable Situations

B&NES Directory of services: Wellbeing Options

Links to a range of services supporting physical, social and emotional needs across the area.

Rainbow Resource

Signposts to organisations, services, support, activities and groups for children and young people aged 0-25 with additional needs.

Citizens Advice B&NES

Independent charity that provides free, impartial advice and information on a range of issues including housing, employment and debt.

Useful Information for Students

This is an area for all students to come and look at resources to support them with their positive mental health and wellbeing. Materials produced by our student wellbeing committee will be added regularly to this area.

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families

Self-care is about the things we can do to look after our own mental health

Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health at St Marks

We are extremely proud of our wellbeing offer here at St Marks. Our Pastoral staff  are trained extensively to detect and support any kind of issue that a student may be dealing with.

Over the years we have used this training to develop a support system that not only intervenes for students who are facing serious difficulties, but guides students who face relatively minor difficulties.

We use many external agencies in our support structure, but we are also proud of our in-house wellbeing support.