We welcomed Suzanne Harris from the charity Suffolk Mind to lead our assemblies this week.
As you may be aware, Friday 10th October was World Mental Health Day. The national charity Mind work to help people with their mental health. This can include things like counselling and support from others with similar experiences.
The assemblies encouraged students to reflect on their own mental health, identifying triggers and signs of mental health concerns as well as providing some practical strategies to deal with times in our lives where our mental health may be vulnerable. Students were guided through the physical needs necessary for supporting mental health such as food, sleep and movement as well as the emotional needs such as socialising, showing attention and having time for privacy.
This video explains how this works - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktm5VLPD1uc
Suzanne discussed the ways we can manage these needs to avoid overwhelming our mental health as well as practical steps to help us manage when we do feel overwhelmed and stretched. One of the key ideas was the importance of good quality sleep for teenagers as outlined in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFqM_5bOSQM
The Suffolk Mind website has a vast range of advice and practical strategies for students and parents.
10 ways to support your mental health: https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/advice-information/10-ways-to-enable-you-look-after-your-mental-health/
Tips for parents: https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/advice-information/conversations-with-children/
Mental health & neurodivergence: https://www.suffolkmind.org.uk/advice-information/attention-and-neurodivergence/
