1. MENTAL HEALTH and WELLBEING Our Whole-School Approach to
Presented to SPX Staff September 2017
MENTAL HEALTH and WELLBEING
Our Whole-School Approach to
Empowering Teachers

2. Teacher empowerment
Resources for staff: What can I do to enhance connectedness at SPX?
“5 things schools can do to help students mental health”:
1. Start talking about it
2. Create a safe space
3. Support for all school community
4. Make sure teachers know how to help
5. Recognise that it takes a village
K10 (the brain quiz - beyond blue) – simple effective measure of mental health
Three ways to make meaningful connections: The first 5 minutes Cocurricular Be available to students

3. Resources for staff (continued):
‘Student’ focused vs ‘content’ focused lessons/teacher
Creating supportive learning environments – how do we create a supportive learning environment?
‘My Connections’- Reachout.com
“Exercise Your Mood” – Black Dog Institute – September Physical exercise can improve mental health.
Consider your significant role in mentoring students to:
- build resilience and confidence
- recognize the outcomes of the choices they make
- enhance their positive potential in all aspects of life.
Visit websites - Reachout.com and Youth Beyond Blue

4. Reflection
I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanised or de-humanised.