Mental health is an important part of everyone’s life and good mental health and wellbeing is directly linked to good physical health. Positive mental health and wellbeing is also linked to increased life expectancy, improved quality of life, better educational achievement and employment prospects.

In school we aim to educate our pupils about mental health and wellbeing and train our staff to be able to help pupils who may be struggling with their mental health.

We teach about mental health and emotional wellbeing as part of a comprehensive PSHE education curriculum. It promotes pupils’ wellbeing through an understanding of their own and others’ emotions and the development of healthy coping strategies. As with any aspect of PSHE, learning about mental health must build up from early learning if it is to be most effective.

With very young pupils, for example, rehearsing ways of asking an adult for help, and persevering if their requests are not listened to, lays the foundations for confidently accessing sources of support when they are older.

Mrs Donaldson is our school designated lead for mental health and wellbeing who receives regular up to date training which is then delivered to all teaching staff. With the high prevalence of mental health issues in society, even young children may be learning about emotional health through their own experiences.