What is mental health and Wellbeing?
Everybody has mental health; it includes our thoughts, emotions and feelings. Our mental health will not always be positive and it is important that we know how to manage our mental health at times when we struggle with it.
MIND define mental wellbeing as being about ‘how you are feeling right now, and how well you can cope with daily life. Our wellbeing can change from moment to moment, day to day, or month to month. Sometimes it changes because of things that happen to us and sometimes it changes for no reason at all. It can affect the way we feel about ourselves and others, and about the things we face in our lives.’
Here at Priestnall School we take the mental health and wellbeing of our students very seriously. We understand that students are likely to experience some issues, challenges or difficulties with regards to their mental health and emotional wellbeing throughout their time in secondary school and we want our students to be equipped with the tools required to restore positive wellbeing when these times occur. Therefore, we want to ensure that our students are able to access the curriculum and progress academically while knowing that their emotional needs are being cared for.
‘One in six children aged five to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, a huge increase from one in nine in 2017. That’s five children in every classroom’ – YoungMinds
Our vision for mental health and wellbeing at Priestnall School:
Below is a list of our visions and aims for mental health and wellbeing at Priestnall School:
- Our students will be educated in the topic of mental health and wellbeing so that they are well equipped with the skills they need to manage and regulate their own wellbeing
- Our students will know when and where to go for support when faced with challenges and will be able to access that support when it is needed.
- Our staff body will be equipped to identify mental health and wellbeing related issues or concerns in our students and will know the procedures to follow in order for them to access the appropriate help.
- Our students feel able to support their peers and signpost them to the appropriate help if and when needed
- Our students feel able to speak about mental health and wellbeing with confidence and knowing that they are heard
- Our students are emotionally intelligent and resilient
- Our students will leave Priestnall equipped with the tools and support they will need to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
- Our parents and carers will be given the knowledge to understand and respond to the difficulties their children face and we will ensure that information, advice and support is readily available to them.