Mental Health
What is mental health?
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as 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.
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 fluctuate on a daily basis and change over time.
Most children grow up mentally healthy, but surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. It is thought that this is probably because of changes in the way that we live now and how that affects the experience of growing up.
At St Mark’s we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all our pupils, we understand the importance of supporting mental health and well-being.
What happens in school?
In school, we teach children about what it means to have good mental health and wellbeing throughout our curriculum and daily practice.
Our PSHE curriculum focuses specifically on developing children’s social and emotional skills which can prevent poor mental health from developing and help all children cope effectively with setbacks and remain healthy. It is about helping children to understand and manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviour and build skills that help them to thrive, such as working in a team, persistence, resilience and self-awareness.
Our whole school approach consists of a range of strategies to promote positive mental health and well-being, including:
- Mental health education
- Positive school culture
- Access to support
- Staff well-being
- Partnerships with mental health organisations
- Well-being activities
By adopting a whole school approach to mental health, we aim to create a nurturing and supportive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to prioritise their mental well-being.
At St Mark’s Primary school children have the opportunity to become a Mental Health Champion for 2 terms during the school year. This involves:
- Learning about what Mental Health is.
- Promote mental health and well-being within their class.
- Litter picking.
- Take part in visiting our local assisted living centre.
- Improve mental health and well-being support at St Mark’s
- Take part, create, and support activities for Mental health UK and Anti-bullying campaigns.
- Take part in whole school assemblies.
- Learn mindfulness and strategies to help feel calm as well as grounding techniques.
- Share learning with their class.
Therapy Dog
We are supper lucky at St Mark’s to also be able to offer weekly dog therapy.
Mrs Nicholls Mrs Morley 
Benefits of having a therapy dog in school:
- Helps promote children’s self-esteem.
- Teaches appropriate dog safety.
- Promotes positive behaviour.
- Offers unique tailored 1:1 Emotional literacy.
- Promotes reading.
- Provides a safe calm place to talk about past trauma.
- Support children’s social skills.
- Lowers stress levels, provides tactile stimulation and encourages well-being.
St Mark’s 1:1 dog therapy sessions
Jess has recently carried out ELSA sessions with our school ELSA Miss Coldwell. This entailed Jess being part of individual plans to support children with emotional literacy, in areas such as:
- Anxiety
- Selective mutism
- Friendship problems
- Past trauma
- Negative behaviours
- School non-attenders
- Stealing
These sessions have been very successful in reinforcing techniques and coping strategies with children that have completed previous ELSA sessions.
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.
In many instances, children and young people’s negative feelings and worries usually pass with the support of their parents and families. It is helpful for the school to know what they are going through at these times, so that staff can be aware of the need and support this.
Coping and adjusting to setbacks are critical life skills for children, just as they are for adults, but it is important that they develop positive, rather than negative, coping skills.
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, come and talk to us. Sometimes children will need additional support for a short/longer period – this may be in the form of a daily check-in with a class grown-up, access to support from the school learning mentor or planned sessions with school ELSA (Emotional Support Learning Assistant). Children are offered time to talk through what they are feeling and given support in developing ways of moving forward.
Further support:
Parents Mental Health Support | Advice for Your Child | YoungMinds
Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child | YoungMinds
Children's mental health - Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Mental health support for parents and carers – Place2Be
Home - HappyMaps: Help and Resources for Children's Mental Health
Resources:
10 Children's Mental Health Week Activities | Cosmic Kids
Mental Health Games and Activities Pack | Resources | Twinkl
feelings-activities.pdf (mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk)
Don’t forget to also look after your own mental health!
Parenting and mental health - Mind
As parents, taking care of your mental health is vital in order to support your children and their education. We understand that parenting can be challenging, especially is these uncertain times.
At St Mark’s we are committed to providing support for parents to help ensure the well-being of the whole family.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for help and prioritise your mental health.
Support for you
- Your GP is there to help you with your mental health and your physical health. You can ask them about local services that could offer support and advice. It may be helpful to make a list of the questions you’d like to ask in advance.
- Some voluntary mental health organisations and family charities may be able to help. Some offer online counselling, drop-in groups and specific support for parents. About parenting and family support | North Somerset Online Directory (n-somerset.gov.uk)
Parents Helpline for free on 0808 802 5544.
- For more information about financial support you might be entitled to, visit our money and mental health page.
Organisations that can help
Anna Freud
annafreud.org
Provides information for parents and carers to help you support a child and look after yourself.
Barnardo’s
barnardos.org.uk
Supports children and young people, and their parents and carers, including with mental health problems.
Carers Trust
carers.org
Information and support for people caring for someone else.
Childline
0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Support for children and young people in the UK, including a free helpline and 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors.
Citizens Advice
0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
0800 702 2020 (Wales Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights, including money, housing, experiences of discrimination and other problems.
Family Action
0808 802 6666
family-action.org.uk
Supports families of any kind, including with mental health problems.
Family Lives
0808 800 2222
familylives.org.uk
Information and support for parents and families.
Family Rights Group
0808 801 0366
frg.org.uk
Supports families whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system.
Gingerbread
0808 802 0925
gingerbread.org.uk
Advice and practical support for single parent families.
Home-Start
home-start.org.uk
Support for families with young children, including details of local services.
Kinship
0300 123 7015
kinship.org.uk
Information for kinship carers.
Mumsnet
mumsnet.com
Online network aimed at parents and parents-to-be, including online forums and details of local groups.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).