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:
  • 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:
  • 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 and Mrs Wilson who are the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. (dmarchant@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk, cmunro@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk, & rwilson@qegs.cumbria.sch.uk)
  • Heads of Year who take responsibility for the pastoral and academic welfare of their particular year groups.

Key Documents and Useful Resources