Mental Health and Wellbeing

Who has mental health and what is it?

We all have mental health – some people call this emotional health or wellbeing. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence and throughout adulthood.

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which every individual achieves their potential, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community.

Good mental health and wellbeing is just as important as good physical health. Like physical health, mental health can range across a spectrum from healthy to unwell; it can fluctuate on a daily basis and change over time.

Most children grow up mentally healthy, but surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. It is thought that this is probably because of changes in the way that we live now and how that affects the experience of growing up

What helps?

Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include:

• Having time and the freedom to play indoors and outdoors.

• Being part of a family that gets along well most of the time.

• Being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

• Taking part in local activities for young people.

• Going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils.

• Spending time with family and friends.

Other factors are also important, including:

• Feeling loved, trusted, understood, valued and safe.

• Being hopeful and optimistic.

• Accepting who they are and recognising what they are good at.

• Being interested in life and having opportunities to enjoy themselves.

• Being able to learn and having opportunities to succeed.

• Having a sense of belonging in their family, school, and community.

• Feeling they have some control over their own life.

• Having the strength to cope when something is wrong (resilience), and the ability to solve problems.

What happens in school?

In our school, we teach children about what it means to have good mental health and wellbeing throughout our curriculum and daily practice.

Our Catholic Life work and our PSHE curriculum, focuses on developing children’s social and emotional skills which can prevent poor mental health from developing, and help all children cope effectively with setbacks and remain healthy. It is about helping children to understand and manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, and build skills that help them to thrive, such as working in a team, persistence, and self-awareness.

Through our Jesuit values, the children learn to understand, promote, and maintain their own wellbeing, and demonstrate concern, consideration, and support for others.

In school, we have Mental Health and Wellbeing Leads, who are responsible for the emotional needs of the school family. They are Mrs M Ashley, Mr C Caffrey, and Mrs Gowen.

We also have a team of children in school called our ‘Wellbeing Champions’ and they work together to ensure all children’s mental health and wellbeing is looked after. They hold regular meetings in school, with our Learning Mentor, and think and develop ways they can promote and support this in school.

Posters are displayed around school of the wellbeing leads, and there is a display board of our Wellbeing Champions, so the children and staff know who they are in school, and go to for support, advise, or share ideas with, for developing wellbeing in school.

What if my child is experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing?

Mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time, and neither does it mean avoiding stresses altogether. One of the most important ways to help your child is to listen to them and take their feelings seriously.

In many instances, children and young people’s negative feelings and worries usually pass with the support of their parents and families. It is helpful for the school to know what they are going through at these times, so that staff can be aware of the need and support this.

Coping and adjusting to setbacks are critical life skills for children, just as they are for adults, but it is important that they develop positive, rather than negative, coping skills.

If you are ever worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing then, just as you would about any concerns that you have about their learning, come and talk to us. Sometimes, children will need additional support for a short period – this may be in the form of a daily check-in with a trusted adult, time to talk through what they are feeling, and support in developing ways of moving forwards with this.

If your child is distressed for a long time, if their negative feelings are stopping them from getting on with their lives, if their distress is disrupting family life, or if they are repeatedly behaving in ways you would not expect at their age, then please speak to us.

Looking after yourself

If things are getting you down, it’s important to recognise this. Talk to someone you trust and see what they think. It is easy to go on struggling with very difficult situations because you feel that you should be able to cope and don’t deserve any help.

Come and talk to us in confidence, and let us know when things are tough. As much as you try to hide how you are feeling from your child, they will notice even the smallest changes.

Go to your GP if things are really getting on top of you. Asking for some support from your doctor, or a referral to a counselling service is a sign of strength. You can’t help your child if you are not being supported yourself.

Relevant Websites

• NHS: Every Mind Matters
• Young Minds
• The Mix: Mental Health
• Place2Be: Supporting your child’s mental health
• Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
• NSPCC: Mental Health and Parenting
• Childline: Calm Zone