St Swithun's Supports Children's Mental Health Week

This #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek we are reflecting on the mental health among young people.

Although it might feel as though a lot of young people are experiencing poor mental health it is the case that there have always been issues but that we are much better today at discussing them. There has also been a lot of work completed on hearing from young people about their concerns and difficulties, especially how to navigate the changing lives of young people as they grow up with social media and the complexities that this brings.

At St Swithun’s we have been putting young people’s voices at the front and centre of what we are doing whilst acknowledging that there is more that we can do. The best thing we can do is raise awareness about the support and help available to pupils at St Swithun’s whilst promoting the importance of smaller things which can help (sleep, eating and exercise) and provide young people with the autonomy to manage things more effectively themselves.

We have often talked in the past about our achievements in mental health, not least the Gold award from the Carnegie college, our comprehensive Thrive programme, and our positive education curriculum, but what children’s mental health week raises awareness of is all the other things that we do for young people that may not be branded as mental health but most certainly are.

For example, the comprehensive boarding programme including fun weekend activities, the school’s wellbeing page for all young people to access to find information on things that can help maintain a positive mental health and balance in life. We have a wellbeing room, which is a space for pupils to discuss difficulties in a comforting and safe environment. We train our 6th Form wellbeing ambassadors to understand the needs of younger pupils and we routinely hold assemblies with a mental health focus.

St Swithun’s celebrates fun and positivity, to develop a positive stance and ultimately improve mental health. Ultimately the school’s key values (Caritas, sinceritas, humilitas) directly link to humility, love/openness and honesty and are regularly discussed in pupil and staff forums as key values that we wish to hold as a community. All of these things and many others, resonate with the key principle of hearing the young person’s voice and helping promote positive mental health in young people.