“A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health

and deserves the same quality of support” 

(Kate Middleton)

What is Mental Health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. The World Health Organisation's definition states that "Mental Health not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes 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."

Intent

At Horbury St Peters and Clifton CE VC Primary School, our intention is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all of our school community which includes children, staff, parents and carers. We recognise how important mental health and emotional wellbeing is to our lives and education in just the same way as physical health. We understand that children’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can affect their learning and achievement. All children go through ups and downs during their school journeys and some face significant life events; how we support children and how they build their resilience to cope with these events will affect their mental health and wellbeing. In 2017, about 1 in 10 children aged 5 to 16 have a diagnosable mental health need and these can have an enormous impact on quality of life, relationships and academic achievement. In many cases it is life-limiting.

In addition to promoting positive mental health through our PSHE curriculum including Jigsaw sessions every week, we aim to recognise and respond to mental ill health. By developing and implementing practical, relevant and effective mental health policies and procedures we can promote a safe and stable environment for pupils, staff and parents/carers affected both directly, and indirectly by mental ill health.

Our goal is to support and develop every child whilst building resilience to mental health problems and to be a school where:

• All children are valued.
• Children have a sense of belonging and feel safe.
• Children feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma.
• Positive mental health is promoted and valued.
• Bullying is not tolerated.

Implementation

Our school has a key role in supporting children’s positive mental health and helping to prevent mental health problems developing/occurring.

Through PSHCE we teach the knowledge and social and emotional skills that will help children to be more resilient, understand about mental health and be less affected by the stigma of mental health problems. We follow the KAPOW scheme for PSHCE and SRE from years 1- 6. The scheme aims to give children the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. The curriculum covers key areas which will support children to make informed choices now and in the future around their health, safety, wellbeing, relationships, and financial matters and will support them in becoming confident individuals and active members of society.

Our identification system involves a range of processes. We aim to identify children with mental health needs as early as possible to prevent things getting worse and to provide support and help as soon as possible.

We believe that all staff have a responsibility to promote positive mental health, and to understand about protective and risk factors for mental health. Some children will require additional help and all staff should have the skills to look out for any early warning signs of mental health problems and ensure that children with mental health needs get early intervention and the support they need.

Impact

At Horbury St Peters and Clifton CE VC Primary School we want all children/young people to:

• feel confident in themselves.
• be able to express a range of emotions appropriately.
• be able to make and maintain positive relationships with others.
• cope with the stresses of everyday life.
• manage times of stress and be able to deal with change.
• learn and achieve.

For support on specific mental health needs

The Early Help Hub

Wakefield young carers   www.wf-i-can.do.uk

CHILDLINE 0800 1111

ESCAYP- Emotional support for children and young people. help@escayp.org.uk

0-19 Service 01924 301130- health visitor and school nursing

Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk OCD UK www.ocduk.org

Depression Alliance www.depressoinalliance.org

Eating Disorders www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com

National Self-Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk

www.selfharm.co.uk

Suicidal thoughts Prevention of young suicide UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org

For general information and support

www.youngminds.org.uk champions young people’s mental health and wellbeing

www.mind.org.uk advice and support on mental health problems

www.minded.org.uk (e-learning)

www.time-to-change.org.uk tackles the stigma of mental health

www.rethink.org challenges attitudes towards mental health