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.
Here are some helpful websites:
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.
Childline: offers online support, advice, tools, videos and games to support your mental health, as well as their free phone line.
See me: aims to end the stigma around mental health issues and has a section for young people with online advice and videos.
The Mix offers support to the under-25s on many issues which affect young people.
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.
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.
Education Scotland has created an Exam Mindset Guide in conjunction with HeadStrong. They have created an interactive guide to support pupils with their mental health and wellbeing during their exams.
Other Issues:
Winston’s Wish – offer support for children and young people dealing with bereavement
BEAT – beating eating disorders
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.
Here are some helpful websites:
- https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/types-bullying/
- https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/bullying/
- 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 of 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.
