On 10 of October 2023, it is World Mental Health Day.
The Mental Health Foundation has chosen the theme ‘Mental Health is a universal human right’ this year to increase awareness and share helpful resources to drive positive change for pupils and school staff.
World Mental Health Day also encourages people to practice self-care strategies and builds social and emotional skills to increase resilience.
Anna Freud’s Mentally Healthy schools has put together example activities to celebrate World Mental Health Day below:
Hold a wellbeing celebration day.
Develop staff knowledge on groups that may be more likely to be at risk.
Run activities/lessons focused on improving students’ social and emotional skills.
Below are further resources for schools:
Primary
Secondary
Mentally Healthy Schools - World Mental Health Day 2023 Secondary Toolkit
Supporting mental health & wellbeing in secondary schools : Mentally Healthy Schools
https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/we-all-have-mental-health-animation-teacher-toolkit/
https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/self-care-form-time-activities/
Kooth - online counselling is available for young people aged 11-25.
Staff:
https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/reducing-mental-health-stigma-for-school-staff/
Staff can also access free mental health support through Qwell
A great way to support Mental Health in schools is by developing a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. If you would like to learn more about how to promote this and to join Barnet’s Resilient Schools Programme, please contact Jayne Abbott
