Children's Mental Health Week 2023
Let's Connect
This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week takes place from the 6th-12th February 2023 and the celebrations are based around Place2Be’s theme ‘Let’s Connect’, which encourages teachers and pupils to think about all the ways we make connections.
Find out more about this year’s theme at childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk and discover the many free resources for both primary and secondary schools they have on offer to help your school or academy take part in the week. They say:
“Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing, and our survival. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.”
How Do We Develop a Robust Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy?
A whole-school approach to mental health should be supported by a policy that integrates other linked policies, such as pupil behaviour, anti-bullying and SEND. This helps to ensure that the wider aims of the school are aligned.
When developing a mental health and wellbeing policy, schools should consider the following:
- Ensuring the policy is reviewed annually and that suggested revisions are agreed by governors;
- Clearly displaying the school’s commitment to mental health and wellbeing, for example in the staffroom, reception area, classrooms, on digital display screens and by putting a highly visible mental health and wellbeing statement on the website;
- How mental health and wellbeing can be included as part of the wider process for reviewing all of the school’s policies;
- Establishing a clear and transparent process for developing policies and, where appropriate, consulting pupils and parents in creating and informing this policy; and
- Creating a Mental Health Action Group whose remit includes policy development and review.
How to Integrate Mental Health and Wellbeing Across the Curriculum
It is essential that pupils are provided with frequent opportunities to talk openly about mental health. This will help to support them by breaking down the stigma around mental health. This can be achieved in a number of ways, such as:
- Structured RSHE lessons and giving pupils regular opportunities through tutor time or small groups to talk about mental health and wellbeing issues;
- Promoting key events across the school year, like Children’s Mental Health Week;
- Running a wellbeing week for pupils, and even for staff;
- CPD for staff on mental health and wellbeing;
- Including mental health and wellbeing as a standing item for governor and senior leadership team meetings as well as in parental newsletters;
- Making sure that pupils and staff know the routes available to them to get support if they need it; and
- Offering a wide range of lunchtime and after school clubs and activities.
Creating a Whole-school Approach to Mental Health
- Are appropriate policies in place, and does the school community know about them?
- Appoint a designated lead with a job description that clearly outlines their responsibilities for mental health and wellbeing across the whole school
- Develop transparent methods of communicating this whole-school approach with parents, pupils and the wider school community
Pupils and Mental Health
There are increasing numbers of children demonstrating signs and symptoms of mental ill-health, so it is essential that they get support from school.
Whilst teachers are not medical health professionals, they are still in a position to help their students when they are struggling. Even just offering to listen can be a big help.
For more advice on how you can help your students, read Handsam's interview with professor Jonathan Glazzard as he discusses pupil mental health.
Handsam Resources
Compliance Matters: Children's Mental Health Week 2022
Compliance Matters: Professor Jonathan Glazzard Discusses Pupil Mental Health