In 2019, Mrs Doyle started a program in the school called the Mental Health Ambassadors. With a group of 14 then S5 students, the were trained in Mental Health Brain training and also to lead classes for S2’s to promote positive mental health and positive talk around mental health. Removing the stigma per say.

At the end of the September weekend, the ambassadors started their new timtable of mindfulness clubs and the place for kids to talk about their mental health, The Sanctuary. The timetable is attached at the end of the interview. I interviewed Mrs Doyle about her reasons for running the scheme and her plans for the future.

1. What made you want to start a program like the Mental Health Ambassador one?

“I just felt passionate about mental health and I felt it was something which wasn’t spoke much about in Greenfaulds. Kids will come to certain teachers in the school and then there can be a gap with senior pupils being able to talk to younger people about Mental Health, thought it would be a good way for kids moving forward to have more options on who to talk to. Senior kids can be more likely to understand with similar experiences. Finally, it gives more leadership roles to senior pupils other than captains or MVP etc.”

 

2. After getting ambassadors on board. What were the first things you wanted to do?

“My first point to go to was the sanctuary. I had already started the GHS Sanctuary Instagram page and wanted the face to face contact. The sanctuary was the first point of call for that senior to junior conversation. This was something we had planned on before Covid had happened, and unfortunately Covid put a stop to the plans. Although this is now being able to go ahead. Finally I wanted to get the staff in place that pupils would be likely to talk to and get the Mental Health Brain Trained. This then giving multiple point of calls to the child if they wanted help. First being the Mental Health Ambassador, then the trusted staff member and then their Guidance teacher. They had the opportunity to go to whoever they were most comfortable with.”

1. Looking at this year. What are your plans with Covid issues?

“The first thing is this new timetable of events, but looking to the 6^th year team we have currently I want them to be role models to the new upcoming 5^th year ambassadors. With the timetable going out last week with these events introducing who the ambassadors are and what they do, I hope they inspire the next ambassadors. Hopefully, if Covid allows of course, we hope to train these next ambassadors in January. Then we will have a bigger group to work on more activities. We are starting physical activities with walks at lunch, and also during periods extra sessions of more fun and mindfulness related PE for pupils who want to. Last year the PE department ran many successful clubs, such as fitness, dance and badminton which pulled in large attendance week on week. Badminton and fitness especially focused on helping giving kids fun and a safe space to enjoy themselves. These were aimed at junior school though there are things for everyone. We want to target male mental health too, something which has a large stigma around it. Creating something like a 5-a-side football tournament for seniors and having boys’ assemblies where we can have guest speakers in from sports like football about mental health. Many footballers have come out recently about their challenges with mental health. Finally, creating a health week, or a health day. Somewhere we can focus on the mental health of staff and pupils. Possibly more achievable to do a day first, bringing back old things like the assault course, yoga sessions.”

1. Explain what you’ve done so far like the clubs or the sanctuary
   “The sanctuary is a new place for kids to go to speak about their mental health if they don’t feel comfortable to speak straight to a teacher or guidance teacher. It is in Lindsay Hoy’s room. The Sanctuary is run each lunch time with a rotation of 2 Mental Health ambassadors each day. The clubs are also run by the Mental Health Ambassadors alongside Mrs McKean, Miss MacAngus, Mr MacLeod and Mr Ritchie who are helping run specialised clubs. The timetable of these is attached below. These clubs are focusing on mindfulness but also are wanting to create a safe space with specialised focuses on music, art, English and meditation.”

I would like to thank Mrs Doyle and the Mental Health Ambassadors for their time and help in creating the Sanctuary. The powerpoint was shown to classes on Wednesday before the September Weekend, and the timetable is posted on the @GHSMedia2 twitter page. Pupils can find out more information through the Mental Health Ambassadors and also through Mrs Doyle and the @GHS_Sanctuary Instagram page.