Mental Health Awareness Week @ Backworth

Mental Health (MH) Awareness Week (12th -18th of May) is celebrated annually by the Mental Health Foundation.

This year’s theme was ‘Community’

The Community theme highlights the vital role that supportive and safe communities play in supporting MH and wellbeing.  We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and gives us a sense of purpose. (Mental Health Foundation)

Here at Parkside House school, we began Celebrating our MH Awareness week with a display poster explaining the theme and the importance of valuing the different communities we belong to.

Each tutor teacher was given a short introduction about why ‘community and connection’ is important to our mental Health to read and discuss with the students.

The students and staff team began the week, with a collaborative task in each tutor group to complete a short question sheet, devised by Miss Towse, to get everyone discussing their communities. The task involved sharing what they found was important to them about belonging to a community and writing down the communities they belong to, both inside and outside school. Many students got involved, and the completed lists are part of Miss Towse’s final ‘Community and Connection’ display.

On day two, Tuesday’s task was again during tutor time. Miss Towse asked students and the staff team to write ‘what they appreciate about their school community’ on a green paper leaf she had cut out. These leaves formed a very important part of ‘Our School Community Appreciation Tree’ which now stands proud in our downstairs corridor for everyone to read.

Wednesday was ‘wear something green day’ which most of the staff and some students took part in. It was great, yet very emotional to see the support for promoting positive mental health whilst helping to reduce stigma.

During tutor time in the morning each tutor group was surprised with a colourful fresh fruit tasting platter for everyone to share and enjoy.

Friday was Community activity day, where most of the students enjoyed visiting their chosen community activity in different groups. They experienced first-hand, the benefits of making the most and supporting local communities.