Key Information
Mental Health and Wellbeing
At St Stephen’s we are committed to supporting the positive mental health and wellbeing of our whole school community (children, staff, parents and carers). We recognise that mental health and emotional wellbeing is just as important to our lives as physical health.
We endeavour to ensure that children are able to manage times of change and stress. We aim to ensure that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. We also have a role in ensuring that children learn about: what they can do to maintain positive mental health; what affects their mental health; how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and where they can go if they need help or support.
At St Stephen’s we have a designated leader for mental health called our Mental Health Champion:
Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community,
(World Health Organisation, 2014)
In school, we support children’s mental health through:
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Calming classrooms
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Exciting learning opportunities
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Strong positive relationships with staff
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A behaviour policy built on a relational approach
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Teaching of personal, social, health and relationships education (including online safety)
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Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) interventions, such as Feeling Art Book; Play and Lego therapy; friendships groups; managing emotions through stories
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Helping children to be resilient learners and to manage setbacks
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Accessing external support when needed such as Step 2 Counselling service
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Supporting and training staff to develop their skills and their own resilience
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Developing an open culture where it’s normal to talk about mental health
What Is Mental Health?
What is mental health?
We all have mental health. Your mental health affects how you feel, think and act. It refers to your emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. Your mental health can change on a daily basis and over time, and can be affected by a range of factors.
