At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, we aim to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for our whole school community (children, staff, parents and carers), and recognise how important mental health and emotional wellbeing is to our lives in just the same way as physical health. We recognise that children’s mental health is a crucial factor in their overall wellbeing and can affect their learning and achievement. All children go through ups and downs during their school career and some face significant life events.

Our aim is to help develop the protective factors which build resilience to mental health problems and to be a school where:

• All children are valued.
• Children have a sense of belonging and feel safe.
• Children feel able to talk openly with trusted adults about their problems without feeling any stigma.
• Positive mental health is promoted and valued.
• Bullying is not tolerated.

Worried about a child or young person’s behaviour or mental health? You’re not alone. Please share your concerns with staff at school.

Heads Together

If you are looking for general mental health support Heads Together Charity Partners are there for you. Whether we struggle with disappointing exam results, the loss of a job, a relationship break-up, depression, anxiety or any other mental health challenge, we all struggle with our mental health at times, and we all need support.

Follow this link to see what help is available.

https://www.headstogether.org.uk/mental-health-support/

Samaritans

It is important to remember that Samaritans are always there to help, not only when people feel suicidal. Samaritans offer a safe place for people to talk, any time, in their own way. People can contact Samaritans by phone, email, text, in writing or face-to-face.

Samaritans can be contacted 24/7, 365 days a year, on 116 123 or by email jo@samaritans.org.

More information: https://www.samaritans.org/

Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk

OCD UK www.ocduk.org

Depression Alliance www.depressoinalliance.org

Eating Disorders www.b-eat.co.uk and www.inourhands.com

National Self-Harm Network www.nshn.co.uk www.selfharm.co.uk Suicidal thoughts Prevention of young suicide

UK – PAPYRUS: www.papyrus-uk.org

For general information and support

www.youngminds.org.uk champions young people’s mental health and wellbeing

www.mind.org.uk advice and support on mental health problems

www.minded.org.uk (e-learning)

www.time-to-change.org.uk tackles the stigma of mental health

www.rethink.org challenges attitudes towards mental health