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:

• Promote positive mental health and resilience in all staff and students

• Increase understanding and awareness of common mental health issues

• Alert staff to early warning signs of mental ill health

• Provide support to staff working with young people with mental health issues

• 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:

• Develop psychologically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually

• Initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships

• Use and enjoy solitude

• Become aware of others and empathise with them

• Play and learn

• Develop a sense of right and wrong

• Face and resolve problems and setbacks and learn from failure

Disorders of poor mental health include:

• Emotional disorders, e.g. phobias, anxiety states and depression

• Conduct disorders, e.g. antisocial behaviour

• Hyperkinetic disorders, e.g. ADHD

• Developmental disorders, e.g. delay in acquiring certain skills

• Attachment disorders

• 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:

• 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.

• Our Pastoral Support Officer, Mrs Sue Armstrong, who supports students throughout the school with mental health concerns. (sarmstrong@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk)

• 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

• 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)

• 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)

• Heads of Year who take responsibility for the pastoral and academic welfare of their particular year groups.