An influential aspect of school culture is the attitude that those within the school community express on a daily basis. This is why it is important to take a whole-school approach to create a more sustainable model for promoting an open culture around wellbeing and mental health.

Schools have long been recognised as a key influence on children and young people’s health and wellbeing. When people don’t feel able to talk about their struggles, feelings of shame can arise. To help reduce this stigma, we can raise awareness of mental health, encourage conversations and promote healthy role modelling. 

We encourage awareness, openness and conversations about mental health which in turn:

• Promotes self-care and physical wellbeing
• Encourages students to talk about their feelings
• Builds self-confidence
• Fosters a school culture of empathy and acceptance
• Reduces bullying and school violence

There are a number of initiatives that we adopt to promote mental health and wellbeing, and that highlight empathy, kindness and inclusivity.

Some of these include:

• Pastoral Wellbeing –Building supportive and respectful relationships between students, teachers and parents. Creating a supportive environment where students can talk openly about how they are feeling.
• Encouraging mental health literacy – Mental health is often not talked about enough in schools because of the stigma around it. One of the best ways to combat some of the misconceptions around mental health is through education and training. The more the school community knows about and understands mental health and wellbeing the easier it will be to talk about and to instil a culture of inclusivity.
• Mindfulness-based interventions in the classroom – Mindfulness is proven to have a profound impact on our overall wellbeing, with studies showing the positive effects of meditation such as reduced stress and anxiety, improved memory and focus, better relationships and reduced emotional and physical pain.
• Wellbeing Day Activities – This is a great way to raise awareness of the importance of wellbeing and mental health issues, and promoting empathy, kindness and inclusivity.
• National awareness days:
  – 27th January: Parent Mental Health Day – This was established by the charity stem4 which supports teenagers and young adults to build positive mental health
  – 2nd February: Time to Talk Day – This is a vital initiative focused on encouraging open conversations about mental health
  – 20th March: International Day of Happiness
  – 2nd April: World Autism Awareness Day
  – 13th–19th May: Mental Health Awareness Week fighting for the rights of people living with mental illness
  – 24th May: World Schizophrenia Day
  – 27th June: National P.T.S.D. Awareness Day
  – 10th September: World Suicide Prevention Day
  – 10th October: World Mental Health Day
  – 13th November: World Kindness Day
• Creating safe spaces in school – This creates a safe space for students to share what they are going through that promotes a culture of no judgement from their peers.

Promoting a supportive culture of staff and student wellbeing is essential to a healthy school, and implementing focused initiatives can help to achieve this.