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Mental Health & Emotional Well-being
Whole Academy Mental Health & Wellbeing
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Mental health and wellbeing is an important part of the pastoral care of our whole community – this includes our students, staff and parents and carers as part of the Plume Family.
Those experiencing mental health difficulties should not face discrimination and the academy are committed to helping to identify these difficulties and supporting people to overcome them.
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Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
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(WHO (2018) Mental health: strengthening our response. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response Accessed: March 2022)
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Mental health and wellbeing is not just the absence of mental health problems. We want all students to:
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feel confident in themselves
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be able to express a range of emotions appropriately
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be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others
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cope with the stresses of everyday life
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manage times of stress and be able to deal with change
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learn and achieve
We recognise that everyone will experience mental health difficulties at some point in their lives and have an ethos, and for our academy we have an inclusive ethos which encourages support and respect for both staff and students.
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We aim to recognise those in need and will endeavour to support them as best we can, possibly signposting them to others who can help. We do not judge or blame, we act to provide a support network for those experiencing difficulties.
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At the same time, we also recognise the importance of taking care of our own mental wellbeing, taking actions and encouraging others to include positive mental activities as part of a healthy lifestyle. Whether this is providing opportunities to talk to others or take part in activities promoting mental health.
Mental Health/Emotional Well-being
The following are a useful set of safe, self-help resources, to support young people’s mental health/emotional well-being. All students will shortly be provided with a card with this information on, but it would be useful if you could remind them to use the resources please and perhaps support them to do so, if they need additional support.
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Kooth – online counselling & emotional well-being platform
Big White Wall (for over 16’s) – support for/from community members with guidance by trained staff 24/7
Zumos – online support. All students have been given a login. See Mrs Atkinson if you have lost yours
Head Space – an app providing guided meditation and mindfulness
Calm – an app to help reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and relief of stress
Calm Harm – an app to help reduce the need to self-harm
SAM – an app for self-help around anxiety management
ChildLine – ring 0800 1111 (free call) talk to a counsellor
Samaritans – ring (free call) 116 123 talking support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
OR – speak to any member of staff who will contact a member of the student welfare team
Understanding anger – https://youngminds.org.uk/
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Dr Pooky Knightsmith directs the children, young people and schools programme at the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, a charity that provides fully-funded mental health training to schools. She is also the vice-chair and education lead for the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.
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Self harm advice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfRwez8ergg&feature=youtu.be
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Self Injury Support
LifeSIGNS – Self Injury Guidance & Support
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Young people self-harm information for parents, carers & professionals.
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Samaritans
YoungMinds – YoungMinds UK’s leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of young people.
Parentzone – Providing expert information and training to both families, schools and family professionals.
Essex Local Offer – The Essex Local Offer website gives information about support services and local opportunities for children and young people with special educational needs and disability.
Essex Local Offer – M.A.S.H. Mums against Self-Harm
NSPCC – Self-harm
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust – Support and advice for young people suffering depression.
harmLESS - designed by Oxford NHS Foundation Trust is a resource for those who have contact with young people who are self-harming.
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Disordered Eating
Mind – Types of Mental Health Problems
NHS – Talking to Teens
B-Eat – Spotting Signs Eating Disorder – UK’s eating disorder charity offering advice and support both for sufferers, families, friends and professionals.
NHS – Change4Life – Healthy Eating
NHS LiveWell – Eating Disorders – Advice for Parents
YoungMinds – Believe in yourself – YoungMinds UK’s leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of young people.
Mrs Alison Ollett
(Whole Academy Mental Health Champion)
Staying mentally healthy during exam time
As we head towards the main exam time it's worth revising how we can support young people at what can be a very stressful time.
Young Minds have a series of support pages aimed to help with exam stress and anxiety. Their advice is available to help school staff, parents and carers and, of course, young people themselves. You can find this helpful advice at the links below: