Wellbeing

Who has mental health?

We all have mental health – some people call this emotional health or wellbeing. Mental health is 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. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act.

What is mental health

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 change on a daily basis and change over time.

What helps?

Things that can help keep us mentally well include:

• being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• having time and the freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
• being part of a family that gets along well most of the time
• going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils
• taking part in local activities for young people.

Other factors are also important, including:

• feeling loved, trusted, understood, valued and safe
• being interested in life and having opportunities to enjoy themselves
• being hopeful and optimistic
• being able to learn and having opportunities to succeed
• accepting who they are and recognising what they are good at
• 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 school, we teach you about what it means to have good mental health and wellbeing in lessons and tutor time etc.

What if you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health and wellbeing?

Mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time and neither does it mean avoiding stresses altogether. If you need to talk to someone, it is important that you are listened to and your feelings are taken seriously.

You might find that your negative feelings and worries pass with the support of your parents and families. It is helpful for school to know what you are going through at these times, so that staff can be aware of how to support you.   You can share your concerns with staff in school, which could be your tutor or Year Head.  Mrs Palmer and Mrs Smith have been trained to support pupils with concerns regarding their wellbeing and can be found in the hub during most days in school.