If you are needing some extra support whilst you are in school to keep your mind healthy there are a number of people you can talk to.
Guidance Teachers
Your guidance teacher can help you to set targets and make informed decisions concerned with your personal, curricular and vocational development. They can also refer you for further support with your wellbeing, including the programmes in school below and other agencies including CAMHS. You can speak with your guidance teacher if you have any concerns or need support. Our Guidance Teachers are:
Adam Smith – Mrs Kerek and Mrs Thompson
Carlyle – Mrs Sim and Mrs Dempsey
Oswald – Mr Farquharson and Miss Osborne
KHS PSO Team
The PSO team can offer 1:1 personal development support. Together we can create a toolkit just for you that includes tools and strategies to help you understand and regulate your emotions. This could include how to manage angry feelings, manage anxiety, improve how content you feel or how confident you feel. Speak with your guidance teacher or one of the PSO team if you feel you would benefit from having your own toolkit. Our PSO team are Ms Birrell, Mrs Hardie, Mrs Rae, Mrs Wood and Jayne Preece.
Mental Health Working Group
Our Mental Health Working Group consists of staff from various departments who are interested in supporting our young people’s mental health. The group promotes The Five Ways of Wellbeing and Fife Council’s Our Minds Matter Framework. Here is a picture of some of the members in our group.
Mental Health Ambassadors
At Kirkcaldy High School we have mental health ambassadors in S3-6. Their role is to peer educate about mental health and wellbeing, including:
- What it is and
- What support is available in our school and community
Our ambassadors for 2021-22 are:
- S3 – Grace C, Chloe K and John S
- S4 – Charlie D, Vince N, Matthew R
- S5 – Phoebe B, Hanna C, Hassan M, Lyall P
- S6 – Sonny B, Maimi B, Callum C, Gemma C, Emily D, Rachel K, Daanish M, Fariha N, Charlie R, Emilie R, Brooke W, Chloe W
- Supporting staff – Miss Burbank, Mrs Dempsey, Miss Fotheringham, Miss Hall, Miss Hay, Mrs Kendrick, Miss Osborne
DAPL
Kelly Johnston is a counsellor from DAPL who works at KHS on Tuesdays. She can help you talk about complex issues and work out what is right for you. Have a look at this leaflet to out more about DAPL and counselling.
Melissa O’Gorman is an art therapist from DAPL who works at KHS on Mondays. Art therapy is a for of psychotherapy that uses art media to help people explore their emotions, improve self-esteem, relieve stress, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression and cope with a physical illness or disability.
Speak to your guidance teacher if you feel you would benefit from support with DAPL.
Young Carers Champion
At KHS, Mrs Thompson is our young carers champion. Mrs Thompson can support you as a young carer. You can also visit the Fife Young Carers website for further support.
ASIST and Mental Health First Aiders
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
At KHS there are adults who are ASIST trained. They have been trained to recognise when someone may be having thoughts of suicide and can work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. If you are needing support you can speak to our trained staff ( Miss Hay, Mrs Patton and Mrs Saunders).
Mental Health First Aid
A Mental Health First Aider (or MHFA) is not a doctor nor a psychiatrist. They’re a member of a team who is trained to spot the signs and symptoms of mental health issues and signpost individuals to the relevant help they need. If someone is struggling with their mental health, an MHFA would be the go-to person (at KHS Miss Osborne is an MHFA).
School Nursing Service
We are offering an accessible confidential virtual space for Secondary School Young People, to call to discuss their health and wellbeing. We provide 1:1 support, sign-posting and onward referrals.
Call the Health Zone on 01592 729393 Monday-Friday 11am-1pm. We also have a drop-in service on a Friday lunchtime in KHS.
Support Programmes
Seasons for Growth
Seasons for growth is a loss and grief peer education group to support young people aged 5-19 years and adults who have experienced significant change, loss and grief. It is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are all normal and valuable parts of life and aims to build resilience and acceptance of change. The seasons of the year are used to represent that there will be good days and bad days while experiencing change and loss and that there is a cycle which cannot be prevented, as there is in nature. It is an 8 week programme during which the young people will share experiences with each other and do a variety of fun activities which can help then build a tool kit which can be revisited at any time. The programme is delivered by 2 trained companions. Speak to your Guidance Teacher, Mrs Wood or Mrs Rae if you feel you could benefit from this programme.
Anxiety Management
In our Anxiety Management programme, pupils learn how our thoughts, feelings and behaviours work together, and how to cope with things that are stressful in their lives. The Anxiety Management programme is run by Mrs Wood and Mrs Rae. If you feel you would benefit from this programme please speak to your Guidance Teacher or a PSO.
LGBT+
The role of the KHS LGBT+ Committee is to strive for LGBT equality within our own school and also within our community, where we attend various events. We want KHS to be a safe space for those of the LGBT+ community and a school where everyone feels equal and respected. We also run events to train varying groups of people about LGBT+ acceptance. The LGBT+ Group meet at 13:10 every Tuesday in A4.
Mindful Activity Clubs
Monday 13:15 in the PSO Base – come along for arts and crafts, play games and chat.
Wednesday 13:10 Craft Club in C19
Physical Activity Clubs
Monday 15:15 Basketball in the Games Hall
Monday 15:30 S2 Football in the PE Department
Tuesday 15:15 Badminton Club in the Games Hall
Tuesday 15:30 S1 Football and S1-2 Girls’ Football in the PE Department
Wednesday 15:15 S4-6 Senior Netball in the Games Hall
Outdoor Clubs
Food and Health
