Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health
Welcome!
Our Mental Health First Aiders
At St George's CE Academy, we are committed to promoting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of all pupils, staff and our parents.
If you would like to speak to anyone in school, our Mental Health First Aiders are:
Mrs A Taylor
Mrs J Skirving
Our Family Liaison Officer - Angela Markham
Our Family Liaison Officer at St George's is Angela Markham. If you need any support, why not call in and ask to see Angela. She is always on hand with a listening ear and not forgetting that important cup of tea and a biscuit. A problem shared is a problem halved!
Our Mental Health Support Worker - Laura Pickering
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce Laura Pickering, who is employed by Darlington Mental Support Team and has been assigned to our school.
The mental health support team supports children and young people in schools in Darlington who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health and emotional wellbeing difficulties such as low mood, social anxiety, separation anxiety, worry, specific fears/phobias, panic and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Laura supports children (year 4 to year 6) in our school and can work with children individually, in small groups or can deliver whole class programmes. If you would like to receive more information about how Laura may be able to help your child, please contact the school and ask to speak to Angela Taylor.
Our Statement of Intent
"We believe that paying more attention to the present moment - to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you."
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Talking with your child about mental health
This can improve your mental wellbeing. We believe well being is all about our holistic health including physical and emotional.
At St George's we are committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our pupils, staff and families to ensure that the school is a community where everyone feels able to thrive. Positive mental wellbeing is essential if children and young people are to flourish and lead fulfilling lives.
At our school, we know that everyone experiences life challenges that can make us vulnerable and at times anyone may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play.
Over 50% of mental illnesses start before the age of 14 and 1 in 10 children and young people has a mental health disorder (Public Mental Health, 2014). Recent survey results found that 12.5% (one in eight) of 5 to 19 year olds, surveyed in England in 2017, had a mental disorder (NHS, 2017).
“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 Organization, 2014).
Two key elements to support good mental health are:
- Feeling Good – experiencing positive emotions like happiness, contentment and enjoyment. Including feelings like curiosity, engagement and safety.
- Functioning Well – how a person is able to function in the world, this includes positive relationships and social connections, as well as feeling in control of your life and having a sense of purpose.
Our role in school is to ensure that children are able to manage times of change and stress, and that they are supported to reach their potential or access help when they need it. Children are taught when to seek help, what help is available, and the likely outcome of seeking support so that they have the confidence and knowledge for themselves or others. We also have a role to ensure that children learn about what they can do to maintain positive mental health, what affects their mental health and how they can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. As part of our targeted provision, we have and continue to access, outside help and support for pupils when required through our partnership with Darlington Mental Support Team.
At St George's we believe that teaching about mental health and emotional wellbeing as part of a comprehensive PSHE and RSHE education curriculum is vital. PSHE plays a central role in developing the whole child and assists pupils to cope with the changes at puberty, introduces them to a wider world, manage transitions and enables them to make an active contribution to their communities.
The concepts covered in PSHE include keeping safe and managing risk, identity, equality, managing feelings and emotions, relationships, change, resilience and being healthy, which includes physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. We aim to promote pupils’ wellbeing through an understanding of their own and others’ emotions and the development of healthy coping strategies.
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. Children at St George's have weekly lessons of PE. A wide range of sport-related after school clubs are run by teachers and external coaches, whilst many of our pupils take part in inter-school sporting competitions which include an extensive range of sports and activities. Our proficient Schools Sports Organising Crew are excellent at leading activities and games during play times to encourage higher levels of physical activity and promote inclusion.
We include World Mental Health Day, Children's Mental Health Week and Mental Health Awareness Week in the school calendar and plan activities for the whole school.
Children's Mental Health and Well-Being Policy
Five Ways to Well-Being
Connect!
Be Active!
Take Notice!
Give!
Keep Learning!
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The focus of '5 Ways To Wellbeing' is to encourage the children to build five easy steps into their daily lives to help them take good care of their own mental health. Research tells us that this can make a real positive difference to the mental health and wellbeing of both children and adults alike and can help build confidence and resilience.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing are – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give:
The 5 Ways in action:
Connect with the people around you. Talk and listen to family, friends, teachers and neighbours.
Be Active: Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Go to a sports club. Play a game.
Take Notice: Appreciate the things around you. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Enjoy the moment.
Keep Learning: Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Take on a new responsibility in your home, school or community.
Give: Do something nice for a friend. Thank someone. Volunteer your time.
Why the 5 Ways work:
Connect: Strengthening relationships with others and feeling close to and valued by others, is critical to boosting wellbeing.
Be Active: Being physically active, including at school and at home, improves physical health and can improve mood and wellbeing and decrease stress, depression and anxiety.
Take Notice: Paying more attention to the present moment, to thoughts and feelings and to the world around, boosts our wellbeing.
Keep Learning: Being curious and seeking out new experiences at home and at school and in life more generally positively stimulates the brain.
Give: Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing.
The 5 Ways To Wellbeing information is freely available for parents on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk. There is a copy of the 5 Ways posters below with some top tips and links to helpful websites. You can also find further information about supporting your child at https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/. We hope that you find this guidance useful.
Promoting 5 ways for Well-being - A guide for Parents and Children
Action for Happiness - Promoting Positivity
Each month, Action for Happiness issues a new calendar with mindfulness and well-being ideas linked for the focus of each month. This is a great way of getting your whole family involved in developing well-being strategies and ideas.
Mindful March 2024
Let's pause, breathe and notice, so we can respond more mindfully.
Ten Keys to Happier Living Guidebook for Parents
Posters for Children - Ten Keys to Happier Living
Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Newsletters
We published a termly newsletter to support our Families Mental Health and Well-Being.
Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being Drop-In Events
Each term we will be holding a Mental Drop-in Event for Parents and Carers. Please check Class Dojo for details of our next drop in session.
Mindfulness Activities
These are some of the activities we do in class to get children to focus on their thoughts. They work really well as calming activities too.
Why not try some of these ideas:
Squeeze Muscles – starting at your toes, pick one muscle and squeeze it tight. Count to 5. Release and notice how your body changes. Repeat exercise moving up your body.
Belly Breathing – put one hand on your stomach and one hand on your chest. Slowly breathe in from your stomach (expand like a balloon) and slowly breathe out (deflate).
Mediation – Sit in a relaxed, comfortable position. Pick something to focus on, like your breath. When your mind wanders, bring your attention back to your breath.
Blowing Bubbles - Notice their shapes, textures and colours.
Colouring – Colour something. Focus on the colours and designs.
Listening to Music – Focus on the whole song, or listen specifically to the voice or an instrument.
Why not try this activities at home with your child or children!
Further Support for Parent and Carers
St George's Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Library
We are proud to announce the launch of our Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Library for St George's Families
“Books can play a powerful role in supporting children as they navigate their way through difficult experiences and challenging times. Children can find stories that gently suggest ways for coping with shyness or anxiety, and books that offer valuable messages of hope or understanding during a significant life change or a family illness. Books can also help them understand the experiences and emotions of others, and so develop their empathy and kindness.”
Our Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Library offers parents, children and families a wealth of books that offer a spectrum of different perspectives and are well worth reading and sharing as a family. Whether you are looking for a book to explore emotions to promote discussions with younger children or a range of books that feature specific mental health we are hoping that we are able to help and support our families at St George’s. Our ever-growing parent and carer library offers, a wealth of books - and is a great place to explore. If you can’t find what you are looking for, why not speak to our Mental Health First Aiders who be able to signpost you to something that is relevant to you and your family!
“As a teacher, parent and Mental Health First Aider at St George’s, I'm reminded on a daily basis of the power of developing a healthy mind. I believe that well-being is the foundation of everything - if our well-being is high, then we can be the best versions of ourselves. Once an adult is able to emotionally attune to their needs, the child will then feel seen and heard. Then they can begin to develop the emotional skills they need to be able to label their feelings and manage them in a healthy way.”
The following are just some of the many book we offer that our families at St George’s can borrow relating to mental health and well-being. Please just call in and speak to Mrs Taylor at the end of the school day you will be only too pleased to help you.
Please click on the link to find out what books we have available.
Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Library - Book List
National Support Networks
Work in collaboration with children and their families to transform children and families’ mental health.
Every Child Matters – Public Health England
A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.
Mentally Healthy Schools
Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Young Minds
YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Advice on depression, anxiety, ADHD & self-harm. YoungMinds Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (9.30 to 4.00pm, Mon- Fri). We offer free, confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
Childline
ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor for free about anything – no problem is too big or too small. Telephone: 0800 1111 Email: http://www.childline.org.uk/Talk/Pages/Email.aspx
Kooth
Kooth is a free online counselling platform for children & young people Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people aged 10-18 year old with trained counsellors as well as articles written by young people, a supportive online community forum and the function to record online journals.
NSPCC
NSPCC
The NSPCC have collated 25 books designed to validate and help children who are worried or anxious interpret how they are feeling.
Supporting Children's Well-Being and Mental Health
Young minds parents’ survival guide - https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-survival-guide/
https://www.familylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/confidential-helpline/
A Guide to Supporting Children's Mental Health
Leaflet - Explaining Mental Health for Children
Bereavement and Grief
Guide to What Helps Grieving Children and Young People
A Guide for Supporting Children Aged 7-11 Years Bereavement
Sleep
Transition
https://youngminds.org.uk/resources/school-resources/find-your-feet-transition-tips-for-parents/
Supporting Children Through Secondary Transition
Worry and Anxiety
Seven Ways to Support Children and Young People who are Worried
https://tutorful.co.uk/guides/the-expert-guide-to-help-your-child-with-anxiety
School Anxiety and Refusal
School Anxiety and Refusal | Parent Guide to Support | YoungMinds
Challenging Behaviour and Anger
Anger | Parents Guide To Support | YoungMinds
Challenging Behaviour in Children
Separation and Divorce
Supporting Children Experiencing Divorce and Separation
Eating Disorders
Supporting Adult's Mental Health
If you are struggling with any of the following, please click to find out further advice and support.
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it is not the end!"
Here are some useful apps to help look after your emotional and mental wellbeing:
SAM (Self help for anxiety management) provides users with a symptom tracker, educational articles, external links, relaxation techniques and Coping skills
Calm - Access music to assist with focus, sleep and relaxation
Check in with how you are feeling and choose one of our missions to help create your very own force field of calm.
For children ages 5 – 10.
Headspace - Everyday Mindfulness and Meditation for stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, fitness and more. Find out what Mindfulness can do for you in just 3 minutes a day.
The Happy Child Parenting app grants access to Psychology, Neuroscience and paediatric
research and tips to help raise a happy, well adjusted child.
The link below is a free resource which has a whole host of support videos/information covering a wide range of topics from anxiety, transition, sleep, mealtimes, starting school, helping your child with reading.
