Mental Health and Student Wellbeing Parent Voice 22nd January 2018 Mental Health and Student Wellbeing

Mental Health and Student Wellbeing Safeguarding At STACS We are all responsible in maintaining a safe, healthy and happy place to live, love and learn. Mental Health and Student Wellbeing

What is mental wellbeing? Sarah Stewart-Brown, professor of public health at the University of Warwick and a wellbeing expert, says: "Feeling happy is a part of mental wellbeing. But it’s far from the whole.” "Feelings of contentment, enjoyment, confidence and engagement with the world are all a part of mental wellbeing. Self-esteem and self-confidence are, too. "So is a feeling that you can do the things you want to do. And so are good relationships, which bring joy to you and those around you.

"Of course, good mental wellbeing does not mean that you never experience feelings or situations that you find difficult,” says Professor Stewart-Brown. "But it does mean that you feel you have the resilience to cope when times are tougher than usual.“ It can help to think about "being well" as something you do, rather than something you are. The more you put in, the more you are likely to get out. "No-one can give wellbeing to you. It's you who has to take action,"

Looking after yourself Sometimes it can feel like we don't have any control over what we think or how we feel. But by making simple changes to our lives, we can make a real difference to our mental health. Feeling good is worth investing in.

Signs and symptoms of mental health issues All children are different but some of the common signs include: becoming withdrawn from friends and family persistent low mood and unhappiness tearfulness and irritability worries that stop them from carrying out day to day tasks sudden outbursts of anger directed at themselves or others loss of interest in activities that they used to enjoy problems eating or sleeping.

Five steps to mental wellbeing Connect – connect with the people around you: your family and friends. Spend time developing these relationships. Be active – you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness".

Depression and anxiety Everyone feels down sometimes, but depression is more than this. People with depression feel sad for long stretches at a time – and this can be experienced by young people as well as adults. Anxiety. Everyone feels nervous from time to time. But some people find it harder to control anxiety. Children and young people can find it especially difficult to express their feelings and open up to others. If they’re suffering from depression they may feel like there is no hope and find it difficult to imagine ever being happy again. Or, if they’re highly anxious they may be even more worried about talking to someone about how they feel.

Some may feel like there is no hope or might think about ending their life. However even having suicidal thoughts clearly shows someone is unhappy and needs help and support. It can be difficult to understand what causes these feelings but they’re often triggered by upsetting experiences such as: living with mental illness experiencing abuse being bullied bereavement after losing a loved one having very low self-worth

The effect on others If a young person is struggling with their mental health, this is bound to have a big effect on you and the whole family. Other children may also pick up that something's wrong, so make sure that you give them all the support they need. So make sure that you also get all the support you need from friends and family and maybe professional counsellors.

What can you do? If you are struggling with low mood and need support, please speak to your form tutor, Head of Year or any other member of staff you feel comfortable with. All staff have an awareness of the mental needs of young people. We have supported many young people and families. School will do what they can to support you and you family so that you are more able to manage your mental Health Wellbeing.

Childline talk to under 18’s online or over the telephone on 0800 1111 Childline talk to under 18’s online or over the telephone on 0800 1111. Calls are free and do not show up on itemised phone bills. Childline’s website offers advice on many topics that affect young people such as mental illness, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and coping with exam stress.

YoungMinds  YoungMinds help children to improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

YoungMinds- Parents Helpline Our Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing, or mental health condition. You may have a child who’s already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them.  Under 25? Our helpline is there for parents, but there’s plenty of help and support for young people too whether it’s our expert guides or the various organisations and helplines we work with. Find out where to get help. Call the Parents Helpline Call us for free Mon-Fri from 9:30am to 4pm – available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 0808 802 5544

Staff Awareness Assemblies and Learning4Life Programme All staff have had training on the signs and symptoms of Mental Health and student Wellbeing. Pastoral Mentors and Learning Support team trained in ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and Early intervention. All staff record any concerns on new reporting System ‘MyConcern’ Oak Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

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