Pupil Health and Wellbeing

It’s important to look after your mental health as well as your physical wellbeing. Mental health problems can affect the way you think, feel and behave. Some mental health problems are described using words that are in everyday use, for example, ‘depression’ and ‘anxiety’.

Each pupil in Calderhead High School is assigned a Pupil Support teacher. The Pupil Support Team can be contacted throughout the course of the day in the Pupil Support Base. They can be contacted at intervals and lunchtimes or pupils can make an appointment to see them. They get to know each pupil in their charge and their help and advice is always available to pupils and to parents.

We also have resources on health and wellbeing in Pupil Support and in the school library.

Here are some helpful websites:

Young Scot  – various articles on many different issues affecting young people. Their Aye Feel page gives information about how to look after your emotional wellbeing, with support from organisations around Scotland and tips on how to promote a positive mindset.

BBC Advice – information and suggestions on all sorts of health and wellbeing issues.

BBC Support: whether you’re moving to secondary school, jumping into the world of work, starting a new relationship or just feeling a bit stressed, the BBC asked those who’ve been through it to share their wisdom.

Mind: this mental health charity gives advice on mental health issues, including how to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.

SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) has plenty of information for children and young people

Breathing Space – if your thoughts and feelings are overwhelming, call Breathing Space, where experienced advisors will listen and offer information and advice.

Chris’ House: Chris’s House is a Scottish charity set up to offer a safe, welcoming environment where people suffering with suicidal or intrusive thoughts can come and find refuge.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at the heart of what they do, they  aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems.

Young Minds – The voice for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Other Issues:

Winston’s Wish – offer support for children and young people dealing with bereavement

BEAT – beating eating disorders

And here’s a great video from the SQA about exam stress:

For parents  – MindEd offers a free resource to help give you confidence in supporting and identifying young people struggling with mental ill health.

For those looking to change the perception of mental health or change the way you were treated:
See Me Scotland – campaign to end mental health discrimination.

Bullying

Calderhead High School follows the  Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme. MVP is designed to train pupils to speak out against bullying and all forms of violent and abusive behaviour. It focuses on an innovative ‘bystander’ approach that empowers each pupil to take an active role in promoting a positive school climate. Within the MVP Programme young people are identified not as victims nor perpetrators but as empowered bystanders able to support and even challenge abusive and bullying peers.

https://www.bullying.co.uk/

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/bullying/

https://www.bbc.com/ownit/its-personal/being-bullied-five-things-you-need-to-do-right-now?collection=anti-bullying-week

https://www.connectsafely.org/cyberbullying/

https://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/index.html

https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/cyberbullying/

Smoking

Stopping smoking increases your chances of living a longer and healthier life. Just some of the benefits to quitting are:

• saving money
• reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, vascular disease and respiratory disease, and cancer
• your life expectancy will be greater

Stopping smoking can help you live life to the full. You’ll feel fitter and more able to take part in physical activity. This in turn can benefit your mental health and wellbeing.

For more information, read about the dangers of smoking and benefits of quitting  at NHS Inform and Young Scot.