Mental Health - Well Being Awareness
Well-Being Schools Award
Positive mental health is just one element of our work as a Healthy School. We have been awarded ‘Healthy School,’ status for the last 3 years and are continually looking for ways to improve the health and well-being of our pupils and staff.
In recognition of the work we have done in the last year, we have just been awarded the ‘Five Ways to Well-Being Award,’ by the Halton Health Improvement Team.
The Five Ways to Well-Being are a list of activities that anyone can do in their everyday lives to help them be happier, healthier and more able to cope with pressures of life.
In 2014, the Children’s Society undertook research to see if the framework was relevant to children and young people. Strong evidence was found for 4 of the 5 ways: Connect, Keep learning, Be active and Take notice. There is a strong link between the types of activities children and young people take part in everyday and their subjective wellbeing, therefore building the 5 ways to wellbeing into children and young people’s day to day lives is a simple way to boost their wellbeing.
We are delighted to receive the award, in recognition for the hard work that the school has done to recognise the importance of positive mental health. Our thanks to Mrs Stokes, who led the project, for collating the evidence and making the successful bid.
Our next step along this path is to have Mental-Health First Aiders-just as we have First Aiders in our school. Mrs Taylor has attended training to become our first Mental-Health First Aider.
Mental Health Awareness
This week has been mental health awareness week and the theme of the campaign is body image – how we feel and think about our bodies. Body image issues can affect all of us, at any age and can directly impact on our mental health. The Mental Health Foundation found that 30% of adults have been so stressed by body image and appearance that they’ve felt overwhelmed, or unable to cope.
The aims of Mental Health Awareness Week are:
• to raise awareness of mental health and mental health problems
• to inspire people to take action and create change
• to promote good mental health for all
More details about the campaign can be found on the Mental Health Foundation’s website (https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week).
Below is just a few of the places that you can visit for support:
Happy? OK? Sad?
For tips on how to boost your mental wellbeing visit www.happyoksad.org.uk during #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
www.happyoksad.org.uk has info about local & national mental health services that can offer information, advice, support or treatment
Support services: Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. You can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 116 123 www.samaritans.org. If you’re feeling low or struggling to cope call Samaritans free on 116 123 www.samaritans.org
Support services: PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS' HopelineUK is for young people who feel suicidal, and anyone concerned about a young person. 0800 068 41 41, www.papyrus-uk.org . Being young can be tough, if you’re finding it hard to cope, or thinking of suicide, PAPYRUS’ HopelineUK 0800 068 41 41 can offer support, www.papyrus-uk.org
Support services: CALM
CALM phoneline & webchat, open 365 days a year, 5pm to midnight, for men who want to talk things through 0800 58 58 58 www.thecalmzone.net
Blokes get stressed too. CALM runs an anonymous & confidential helpline & webchat service for men 5pm to midnight 0800 58 58 58 www.thecalmzone.net
Support services: Samaritans, PAPYRUS, CALM
When things are tough talking helps, support is out there @theCALMzone @samaritans @PAPYRUS_tweets