Mental Health and Wellbeing
At St John’s Middle School, we believe in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing to ensure that our school is a community where everyone feel happy, safe and able to thrive. Our school values underpin all that we do.
Here is a link to our Social, Emotional and Mental Health Policy which outlines our whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing Ambassadors
At school we have a group of pupils who work as our wellbeing Ambassadors. Wellbeing Ambassadors are pupils who have shown a real interest in championing positive mental health and wellbeing. These pupils are keen to share their learning around mental health and advertise the importance of self-care. The Ambassadors have a responsibility for leading and promoting wellbeing throughout school, they drive the message forward and release the stigma around talking about challenging feelings and encourage people to talk. Wellbeing Ambassadors provide feedback on what’s working well and highlight any gaps in whole-school approaches to wellbeing.
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.
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, please contact your child’s class teacher or head of year. 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.
Contacts, Resources and Online Support
Samaritans 24 hour confidential telephone, email and text message service. 08457 909090 or 01905 21121 www.samaritans.org.uk
NHS Choice 24 hour national helpline providing health advice and information. Call 111. www.nhs.uk
Mind Infoline Helpline open Mon-Fri (except bank holidays) 0300 123393 www.mind.org.uk
GP Request an emergency appointment or get advice
Saneline Out of hours telephone helpline, 7 days a week, 6pm -11pm: 0300 3047000 www.sane.org.uk
Stay Alive App A suicide prevention pocket resource. Offers help and support and can be personalised for and by individuals: go to www.prevent-suicide.org.uk
Online Suicide Help List of mental health services available online: www.unsuicide.wikispaces.com
Befrienders Worldwide Befrienders work to reduce suicide across 40 countries: www.befrienders.org
Young Minds web: www.youngminds.org.uk YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
The Mix website: www.themix.org.uk Honest information and support for young people in the UK on a range of issues.
Mental Health Foundation website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk Charity improving the lives of those with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Kooth Online mental health counselling and well-being service for children and young people. https://xenzone.com/kooth/
MindEd website: www.minded.org.uk At its heart, MindEd provides practical knowledge that gives adults confidence to identify a mental health issue and act swiftly, meaning better outcomes for the child or young person involved.
Child Line 0800 1111 (UK), 24 hours a day chat: chat online email web: www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC Offers a wide range of advice and support. www.nspcc.org.uk
ACAMH Online Resources www.acamh.org
Eating disorder advice
Beat
Adults over 18 including parents, teachers or concerned adults 0345 634 1414 - . (Mon-Wed, 1pm-4pm) Support forums (7 days a week) email: help@b-eat.co.uk
Under 25s. 0345 634 7650 - (Mon-Wed, 1pm-4pm)
Support forums (7 days a week) email: fyp@b-eat.co.uk web: www.b-eat.co.uk
Addiction advice FRANK 0300 123 6600 (UK), 24 hours a day live chat (UK), 2-6pm email SMS: 82111 - Need a quick answer? Text a question and FRANK will text you back. website: www.talktofrank.com
Other Useful links
https://www.annafreud.org/parents/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-guide-to-looking-after-yourself/