At St Joseph’s, we believe that the social, emotional mental health of all of our pupils is of the utmost importance and is central to all that we do. We want all of our children to be resilient and mentally healthy so that they are happy and content and can succeed and reach their full potential. We recognise that all our children need a solid foundation of positive mental health to benefit fully from all of the opportunities available to them.

Wellbeing

 

We support all of our children with their mental health and wellbeing in a number of ways, providing tailored support for individual children, small groups, whole classes and families. Every class has a ‘Worry Monster’ which they are encouraged to note down any concerns that they have to and emotion fans and emotion monsters can be used by children throughout the day to express how they are feeling. Daily wellbeing check-ins are completed and acted upon as well as surveys throughout the year such as the ‘My Health, My School’ survey and key stage questionnaires. The results are analysed and actioned, with the impact of these actions evidenced.

Further Wellbeing Support

 

How are you feeling?

It’s okay to not feel okay. Your feelings are never wrong. Below are some resources that might help if you are feeling a little worried or unhappy. It’s important to talk about how you are feeling and be kind to yourself. You could talk to an adult you trust at home or your class teacher.

 

Activity Calendars

Below are a menu of activity calendars which include fun activities as well as some that may support you to manage and express how you are feeling and to develop an awareness of how others may be feeling too.

Virtues Calendar  This gives 31 different activities that encourage creativity, gratitude, empathy, resilience and curiosity.

Wellbeing Activity Calendar  This helps the whole family to take 5 minutes a day to participate in an activity together that will boost well-being and look after your mental health.

360 Positive Activities  This thought provoking activity helps you to identify features in yourself and others that help build resilience.

100 Fun Indoor Activities Checklist – PRINTABLE A list of activities that you can complete as a family at home.

Building resilience through adversity!

Here is the good news: Resilience skills can be learned.

Building resilience — the ability to adapt well to pandemics, changes in routine, adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress — can help our children manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. However, being resilient does not mean that children won’t experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common when we have suffered major trauma or personal loss, or even when we hear of someone else’s loss or trauma.

 

What do you need to be resilient?

To be resilient you need to experience 8 of 10 emotions on a regular basis:

  1. Joy
  2. Gratitude
  3. Serenity
  4. Interest
  5. Hope
  6. Pride
  7. Amusement
  8. Inspiration
  9. Awe
  10. Love

These don’t always find you. You have to be pro active in seeking them out!

Take time to think. Do you feel these emotions regularly? Why not? What can you do (more of) to feel these? What do you need to stop doing to feel these?

Not sure if you’re resilient? Click here to take a free quiz!

Mindmate Friendly

We are proud to have been awarded the MindMate Friendly Accreditation in December 2019. 

Useful Links for Parents

Please follow the links below to other organisations that may be able to offer additional advice and support.

youngminds.org.uk NHS – CAHMS Information for Parents and Carers Action for Children

Grief and Loss Support

If you are experiencing grief or loss and would like some support, please see the posters below from NHS Grief and Loss Support Service in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Grief and Loss Support