Mental Health and Wellbeing

We recognise that mental health and emotional wellbeing are just as important in our lives as our physical health.

All children will navigate ups and downs throughout their time in school, and some may face significant life events. Schools have an important role and responsibility when nurturing a child's wellbeing.

Our aim is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community.

It is worrying and stressful for any parent to see their child having difficulty with their mental health, and when you search for information it can be hard to know where to start. The CMHA have compiled 'Mental Health Difficulties in Children and Young People. A Toolkit for Parents'. It is designed to provide an overview of the key topics, signpost to further information from trusted sources, and share insights from parents and young people who have been through it.

This toolkit will help parents/carers to:

Understand good mental health and mental health difficulties in children and young people
Be aware of why and when difficulties can arise and what to look out for
Know how to help your child if they are struggling
Know when and how to get professional help
Understand that they need to look after themselves, too.

Click HERE to download the toolkit

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness means paying full attention to something. It means slowing down to really notice what you're doing.

It is the opposite of rushing or multitasking. When you're mindful, you're taking your time. You're focusing in a relaxed, easy way.

Mindfulness apps for students

Headspace for Kids: As one of the most popular mindfulness apps in the world, Headspace can be accessed on any device and guides users to learn the basics of meditation in just ten-daily, ten-minute lessons. Headspace for Kids is their newest launch designed specifically for younger generations.
Buddhify: This guided meditation and mindfulness app deals with everything from intense emotions to sleep. Its optional Buddhify Membership unlocks features like kid-friendly, ‘karaoke-style’ meditations, which can be read aloud, as well as weekly video courses.

Non-tech tools.

Box breathing. Hold one nostril, slowly breathe in and hold for a few seconds. Close the opposite nostril and slowly breathe out. Repeat for a few minutes.
Body scan. Start at the top of the head and focus on each subsequent muscle group until you reach the toes. Students can do this on their own or as guided by their instructor.
Colouring. As with many forms of art therapy, colouring has been shown to reduce stress and improve focus. It’s great for adults too and can be implemented anytime a mindful break is needed.