Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Middlestown Primary Academy, we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community (children, staff and parents) and recognise how important mental health and emotional wellbeing is to our lives in just the same way as physical health.

We are very proud to say that we have 7 Mental Health First Aiders trained on school site. All Mental Health First Aiders are a point of contact for any children or adults in school who are experiencing any mental health issues or have any worries or concerns in school. They have the skills and confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues, offer first aid and guide them towards the support that they need.

We are also proud to say that we have a named Governor, Sian Pearson, for the mental health and wellbeing of both children and staff.

We have a wellbeing board in school which pupils can refer to for guidance and we hold a ‘Wednesday Club’ where children can  discuss any worries and anxieties they have. Alongside this, each classroom has a ‘worry box’ into which pupils can post their concerns and subsequently discuss them with an adult.

We also promote a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet through our school dinners, healthy lunch box policy, daily miles and active PE sessions.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Newsletters

Below are the Middlestown Primary Academy’s Mental Health and Wellbeing newsletters. One is a half termly newsletter which aims to support parents and children with their mental health and wellbeing by providing ideas and helpful websites to support them. Any other additional newsletters relating to Mental Health and Wellbeing can be found below as well.

8 children from Year 5 and Year 6 have been selected to be trained as Mental Health and Wellbeing Champions. They understand the importance of their role in school and offer support and reassurance to any child that may need it.

They made a pledge about their role in school:

• We will be available to help and to listen
• We will offer support and information about how to look after your mental health and wellbeing
• We will be there to listen to your thoughts and ideas
• We will spread positivity

Wellbeing Poster Competition

Children were asked to design a poster all about mental health and wellbeing. This could incorporate any ideas they had and what they thought of when they heard these terms. There were some fantastic entries and the winning ones were entered by Oliver (LF) and Zara (Y5). These posters are now displayed on the Mental Health Awareness board in school for everyone to see!

A Problem Shared

A book that we have used in PSHE lessons in school is ‘A Problem Shared’, written by a parent of 2 children at Middlestown Primary Academy. It is an excellent book that discusses the benefits of sharing problems and their feelings. If you would like to purchase a copy, you can here.

After sharing the story with the whole school, three children (Amber, Orla and Lauren) wrote a review of the book:

Mental Health Awareness Days

World Mental Health Day – 10th October 2022

#HelloYellow

On Monday 10th October, we celebrated World Mental Health Day. Middlestown Primary Academy took part in the #HelloYellow day to raise awareness for Mental Health and to raise money for the charity Young Minds. Here are some photos of some of the children from the day. For more information on the charity and for further information to support your mental health, you can visit the website here: www.youngminds.org.uk

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day – February 2022

In February, we celebrated Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The children were encouraged to come into school in non-uniform following the theme ‘Dress to Express’. There were some fantastic outfits and some great work produced.

In PSHE, Year 5 created a ‘Support Balloon’ – they wrote the names of different people that supported them in their lives.

Useful links

Every Mind Matters

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

A public health England and NHS site to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

Mentally Healthy Schools

https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/

Quality-assured information, advice and resources to help primary schools understand and promote children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Action for Children

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/chat/

Free and confidential live chat (various times, morning to evening) with a parenting coach to offer information, advice and guidance regarding family life, caring for children or managing parental wellbeing.

Family Action

https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/

Emotional support and parental guidance to address complex family pressures and issues via telephone, text, web chat or email. Long term and short term support available 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday.

Wakefield Adult Education parenting groups

https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-and-children/supporting-families/information-for-families/parenting-courses

Classroom/small group based parenting support from Early Years to Teenagers.

Night Owls

www.wynightowls.org.uk

A new West Yorkshire based overnight listening service for children, young people, and their parents/carers experiencing mental health; call, text or chat.

SCOPE  Navigate – emotional support for parents

www.scope.org.uk/family-services/navigate/

National mentoring service providing 6 weekly sessions of online/virtual emotional support for parents/carers of children with additional needs who are on the pathway to diagnosis or have received one in the last year. (Current 14 week wait for allocation of a mentor however initial contact is made within 2 days and screened).

Live Well Wakefield 

www.livewellwakefield.nhs.uk

Offers support for people aged 18+ years who are facing non-clinical challenges such as; bereavement, aids & adaptations, education, assistive technology, mobility, social isolation, lifestyle advice, loneliness, long term conditions,  home support, personal safety, mental health, housing finances and employment advocacy services.

WF I Can

www.wf-i-can.co.uk

Wakefield online chat and useful information for young people up to the age of 25 years.

KOOTH

www.kooth.com

12pm-10pm Monday-Friday, 6pm-10pm weekends. Online support and webchat for young people in Wakefield.