Supporting Good Mental Health and Wellbeing at QEGS
As a school, we believe that the mental health and wellbeing of our students, staff and parents is of paramount importance. It is our goal to:
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Promote positive mental health and resilience in all staff and students
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Increase understanding and awareness of common mental health issues
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Alert staff to early warning signs of mental ill health
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Provide support to staff working with young people with mental health issues
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Provide support to students suffering mental ill health and their peers and parents or carers
Definitions:
Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. (World Health Organization)
Good Mental Health in young people can be defined as people who have the ability to:
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Develop psychologically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually
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Initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships
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Use and enjoy solitude
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Become aware of others and empathise with them
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Play and learn
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Develop a sense of right and wrong
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Face and resolve problems and setbacks and learn from failure
Disorders of poor mental health include:
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Emotional disorders, e.g. phobias, anxiety states and depression
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Conduct disorders, e.g. antisocial behaviour
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Hyperkinetic disorders, e.g. ADHD
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Developmental disorders, e.g. delay in acquiring certain skills
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Attachment disorders
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Other mental health disorders including eating disorders, habit disorders, PTSS
Lead members of staff
Whilst all staff have a responsibility to promote the mental health of students, staff with a specific, relevant remit include:
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Our Designated Mental Health Lead is Miss Vicki Smith, Assistant Head, Student Welfare. Miss Smith is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead. You can contact her by email at vsmith@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk.
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Our Pastoral Support Officer, Mrs Sue Armstrong, who supports students throughout the school with mental health concerns. (sarmstrong@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk)
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Mr Colin Munro is the school SENDCo and supports students with SEN needs including those students with SEMH concerns. He can be contacted on cmunro@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk
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Mr Nick Henderson, the Duty Pastoral Officer who supports students before and during the school day, including break and lunchtimes. (nhenderson@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk)
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Mr Marchant, Mr Munro, Mrs Wilson and Mr Dawson who are the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. (dmarchant@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk, cmunro@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk, rwilson@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk and rdawson@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk)
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Heads of Year who take responsibility for the pastoral and academic welfare of their particular year groups.
Key Documents and Useful Resources
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy 2021
- NHS Emotional Health Factsheet
- Coping With Lockdown Student Booklet
- Reporting Mental Health Concerns Flowchart
- Coaching In Mind Information
- Barnardos Link
- External Support for Students and Parents
- QEGS Pastoral Support Officer Procedure and Practice Manual
- Student Guide to Pastoral Support at QEGS