Mental Health & Wellbeing
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. 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.
Here are definitions of well-being and mental health:
Well-being
Well-being is about our thoughts, feelings, emotions and ability to react to life. A good sense of well-being is feeling ok and able to cope, even when life or situations are challenging.
Sometimes our well-being is affected by things out of our control: illness, a stressful family situation or crisis. When our well-being is affected and we don’t feel able to cope, this can lead to mental health concerns: sadness, depression and unhelpful thoughts that can stop us from enjoying and coping with daily life.
Mental health Illness
Sometimes, people are born with a mental health illness which affects them throughout their lives. They might have different ways of being supported and coping with their mental health illness; they might take medicine or they might have a doctor or counsellor that they talk to, to help them cope and regain a sense of well-being.
Mental illness is often invisible, but that doesn’t mean it should be hidden. Statistics tell us that most people suffer from a mental health concern at some point in their lives and that one in ten young people struggle with their mental health. People with any illnesses, whether they affect our mental or physical health, deserve support, help and understanding.
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School we:
- help children to understand their emotions and feelings better
- help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
- help children socially to form and maintain relationships
- promote self esteem and ensure children know that they count
- encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
- help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
Everyone deserves to feel good and there are steps you or your child can take to maintain and improve your Mental Well-being:
- Build positive relationships.
- Take time for yourself.
- Look after your mental health.
- Look after your physical health.
What can your child can do in school to gain Mental Well-being?
- Be open and talk about your feelings with your friends.
- Associate yourself with positive people.
- Join an afterschool club (in due course!.
- Speak to a member of staff.
- Tell the Safeguarding and Well-being Team.
- Get physically active (a Health body and mind are closely linked).
Levels of support At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
- Universal Support– To meet the needs of all our pupils through our overall ethos, school values and our wider curriculum. For instance, developing resilience for all.
- Additional support– For those who may have short term needs and those who may have been made vulnerable by life experiences such as separation or bereavement.
- Targeted support– For pupils who need more differentiated support and resources or specific targeted interventions such referral to wider professionals.
Useful links for support:
Child Bereavement:
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/candle
Outside Services:
- Bromley Wellbeing
Bromley Y is a long established local charity offering free therapeutic support to young people between the ages of 0 – 18 years
- The Maypole Project
The Maypole Project provides family centered emotional support, where a child/young person has been diagnosed with a complex medical need between 0 and 18yrs
- Bromley Well (Carers)
Bromley Well provides a service for Young Carers. The service supports Young Carers aged 4 to 19 to manage caring relationships whilst enjoying your childhood
- Guide to CAMHS A guide to the NHS's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for young people and parents.
- Bromley Children’s Project: The project is a borough wide service that supports families living in Bromley to create a safe, secure and happy environment for all children, by reaching out to expectant parents, current parents and young people aged up to 18 years; particularly those who are struggling and are in need of additional help. The Bromley Children Project is linked to all Children and Family Centres, and works with private, voluntary and independent Early Years providers in the borough.
- Rehab4addiction offers a wealth of resources and information about addiction and mental health, which could be invaluable to those in need following a bereavement. We provide a helpline that offers immediate assistance to those struggling with addiction. They have a comprehensive directory of treatment centres throughout the UK, making it easier for those in need to find help near them.
Useful Websites:
