Mental Health and Well Being

Wellbeing Room

Each lunchtime, students are able to access our Well-being Room. This room is supervised by an experienced teacher, with members of the student leadership offering support for students who might be struggling to settle into life a Mossley Hollins, experiencing mental health issues or wanting to discuss their identity.

Mental Health and Well Being

At Mossley Hollins High School, we recognise that young people face a number of barriers when it comes to their academic and personal development. Our aim is to identify and support each student’s individual needs to enable them to reach their potential both in school and at home.

What do we mean when we say Mental Health and/or Mental Illness?

We often talk about mental health and mental illness, but what do we mean by Mental Health and Emotional Health and Wellbeing and what can you do to look after your own mental health?

Mental Health

The question is often asked about what is meant when we talk about Mental Health. Many people immediately start thinking about mental health problems or mental illness or worried about being thought of as ‘mad’. Everyone has ‘Mental Health’ and this can be thought of in terms of:

how we feel about ourselves and the people around us
our ability to make and keep friends and relationships
our ability to learn from others and to develop psychologically and emotionally.

Being mentally healthy is really important and also about having the strength to overcome the difficulties and challenges we can all face at different times, to have confidence and self-esteem, to be able to take decisions and to believe in ourselves.

We all have mental health, so it’s important to understand when you may need to get some help or support with how you are feeling, or to know when you may be experiencing a more serious problem. It is quite normal to feel worried, anxious or upset when things don’t go as you hope or planned. Everyone faces pressure in their lives at certain times and these can include:

Exam Stress
Deadlines
Work and getting a job
Growing up and becoming more independent from your family
Making up (and breaking up) with friends
Home life

Knowing when to get help, advise and support:

What to look out for:

If someone is experiencing worries, anxieties and difficult feelings to the extent that they are seriously interfering with their everyday life, for example:

Being able to focus on your studies and come to school
Being able to eat or sleep as you would normally do
To go out with your friends or take part in activities

If these feelings are becoming persistent, that is lasting for a few weeks or more, then it maybe that you need to get some advice, help and support.

Mental Health issues affect many more young people than you probably realise. It is understood around 1 in 10 of all young people may experience a mental health issues where they may need help from a mental health specialist such as CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service).

It’s important to get help early. Mental health conditions can be treated and getting help early can prevent difficulties from getting more serious.

How we can support students and their families with mental health and wellbeing

All students have a form mentor to report to everyday and monitor their welfare during form time. During these sessions, staff will deliver the Pastoral Programme which includes a focus on mental health and well-being.

As well as this, each year group has a Head of Year to support them with their learning and their personal development. Our Year Teams work closely with both students and their families to offer support wherever it may be needed, including working alongside external agencies who may also be able to offer support.

We support students through our pastoral team who look at each individuals’ strengths and areas for development as well as what support a student could access. This is used for low level mental health and wellbeing circumstances. If more support is needed this is sought out through an Early Help Assessment where a co-ordinated multi agency approach is needed.

We also offer the On-Board Centre provision to specific students who are experiencing exceptional circumstances. This is based on a referral system which is monitored by our Learning Support team.

The OBC is run by a team of trained staff who specialise in supporting students who are struggling with their own mental health and wellbeing. Staff in the OBC are trained to monitor and assess the welfare of students when and to offer support in school as well as signpost students and their families to support available outside of school.

The team work closely with individual students to ensure that they can access their education and that external factors have the smallest possible impact on their learning.

Our school also has access to a school nurse and a health mentor. Both professionals come to school and meet with individual students after a successful referral from school. As well as addressing medical needs, our school nurse is able to discuss wellbeing and mental health concerns with students and their families and can offer support via external agencies.

Tameside also have a wide range of supportive organisations that are available to adults. If you feel as though you may benefit from some additional support with your own mental health or wellbeing, please follow the information below:

Healthy Minds

0161 716 4242

Treatment and support options for people struggling to cope with low mood, stress, anxiety, depression, or any mental health problems. The service can also support if there is a long-term physical health condition. Professional or self referrals.

The Anthony Seddon Fund

Helping Tameside residents living with mental health illness.

Adult drop-in: Monday to Saturday between 12-4pm for the opportunity to chat and seek support.

Anthony Seddon Centre located at:

12 George Street,
Ashton-Under-Lyne,
OL6 6AQ

For the drop in and activities. A range of supportive groups, e.g. a specialised ‘Bereavement by Suicide Support Group’ runs 2nd Monday of every month between 6.30 – 8.30pm. www.theanthonyseddonfund.org

Mind

0161 330 9223

Local shop/café located on Katherine Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne. Groups for parents to attend in an informal setting. Information and resources available.

www.mind.org.uk