Mental Health and Wellbeing

Everyone has mental health and everyone experiences poor mental well-being.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

It is crucial that you know that:

Everyone has mental health and everyone experiences poor mental well-being. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

Your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life. We all have times when we feel down, stressed or frightened, THAT’S NORMAL, and most of the time those feelings pass.

However, sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any of us. If you’re having mental health problems, you’re not alone. One in four of us will have problems with our mental health at some time in our lives

What is Stirling High doing in terms of Mental Health and Wellbeing?

Promotion of good mental well-being can be seen throughout school more often
Resources on Mental Health will be available in the library
Resources on Mental Health is available with Mental Health First Aiders
Resources on Mental Health can be found on the school website
Better PSE lessons to do with Mental Health
Teachers and pupils are Mental Health First Aiders
Signposting Mental Health Support Groups/Charities

Kooth

We would like to introduce you to Stirling Councils online mental health support service, 'Kooth':

Kooth online counselling is live in Stirlingshire! It offers therapeutic support to young people between the ages of 10-18. The service is funded by the Stirlingshire Council so Kooth is completely free to all schools and services working with young people.

Our qualified counselors are online 365 days a year. Monday to Friday, from midday until 10pm and weekend 6pm until 10pm. There is no referral process, and importantly no waiting list or threshold a young person needs to meet. Children and young people can access support for ANY issue they may be experiencing. This may include; Body image, self-esteem, bereavement, academic pressures, suicidal thoughts, friendships, bullying, low mood, anxiety, sexuality etc.

To access support, they simply register here… KOOTH

As well as chatting to our qualified counsellors on the text-based service, young people can message the team 24 hours a day, access our fully moderated support forums, online magazine and other self-help tools.

If you feel your child requires an urgent CAMHS (Children and adolescent mental health services) appointment, this is completed by the GP and our Pupil Support Staff can provide a supporting letter to aid their referral.

Mental Health First Aiders

What is a Mental Health First Aider?

A mental health first aider is someone who has been trained by the NHS to be able to better understand mental illnesses (their causes and ways to help) and how to aid with poor mental well-being in others. They are someone to talk to if you are feeling down. They can get you in touch with further resources.

Why do we need them?

There’s a stigma attached to many mental health problems. This means that people feel uncomfortable about them and don’t want to talk about them. Many people don’t feel comfortable talking about their feelings, but it’s healthy to know and talk about how you’re feeling.

If you have concerns about your mental health or well-being, or that of a close friend or relative, you should talk to a friend, family member, someone you trust or contact your doctor.

If you need someone to talk to in School then the following teachers are all Mental Health First Aiders and would be happy to talk to you about how you’re feeling and what can be done to help make you feel better.

Mrs Kennedy

Ms Devoy

Mrs Gray

Miss Robb

Miss Lochhead

Mr Hamilton

Sally

Miss F Withey

Miss K Withey

Mr Knight

Mr Keeley

Mr MacPherson

Ms McAlpine

Ms Nelson

Mr Macleod

Mr Weir

Miss McCallum

Mrs Murray

Mrs Drysdale

Mental Health Ambassadors

Every year there is a Mental Health training course, run by the NHS, for schools in the Stirling area. Usually there are 3 pupils from each school who participate. We are hoping to increase this number and get more and more young people involved in the improvement of mental well-being in others. In 2019, these two pupils went on the 5 day training course and received their certificate for being a Mental Health First Aider. They are just as trained as the other mental health first aiders and are here to help!

Follow SHS Mental Health Ambassadors on Twitter for more information and mental health resources.

Twitter Threads:

What can I do to improve my own Mental Well-Being?

Many mental health problems are preventable, and almost all are treatable. This meant that people can either fully recover or manage their conditions successfully, allowing them to live healthy, happy and productive lives.

By taking simple steps and introducing some of the suggestions below into everyday life, you can improve your mental well-being.

Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, classmates and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
Be active – you don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or join one of the many extra-curricular clubs. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for an extra-curricular club to learn a new skill e.g. learning to play a musical instrument, learn coding, learn how to play chess or play a new sport. It can be anything you enjoy…
Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre or clubs, can improve your mental well-being and help you build new friendships.
Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings. Take time to stop and relax and look after yourself. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Resources:

If you would find it easier to talk to someone outside of school that does not know you; then there are a number of useful websites, people and groups listed below who are also there to help.