Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event that recognises the importance of emotional wellbeing and is a great time to think about how we're feeling. 

The national lockdown has been difficult for many of us and now that restrictions are easing there may be new challenges to consider. Mental Health Awareness Week will help conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it.

Throughout the week assemblies and Learning for Life lessons have been focussing on mental health with additional recourses added to MS Teams by Mrs Hopes and Mrs Holland.

Did you know that nature can support good mental health?

This year the theme is Nature, to encourage people to use fresh air and exercise as a source of wellbeing management.  During long months of the pandemic, millions of us turned to nature. Research taken place during the pandemic showed that going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us reported being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health. 

Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health, that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world.

During Mental Health Awareness Week, pupils were asked to try and do three things: 

Experience nature: take time to recognise and grow your connection with nature. Take a moment to notice and celebrate nature in your daily life. You might be surprised by what you notice!

Share nature: Take a photo, video or sound recording and share the connections you’ve made during the week, to inspire others. 

Talk about nature: To discuss in your family, school and community how you can help encourage people to find new ways to connect with nature in your local environment.

And finally...who can you speak to in school about mental health?

• A teacher that you feel most comfortable with, who may pass you onto one of the following -
• Pastoral Team – Mrs Holland, Mrs Clementson, Mr Shipton or Mrs Swire.
• Your Head of Year - Mrs Farley, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Ham, Mr Faulkner and Mrs Eastham.
• If you are in Years 7 & 8 you can also ask to speak to Humanities teachers Miss Ackers or Miss Makinson.

One of the school counsellors or school nurse (ask a member of the pastoral team for a referral)

During the week, Mrs Holland, wanted to see how creative and inspiring we can be.

Pupils were asked to think of ways in which we can be more involved with nature, to take a picture and send it to her via MS Teams or email a.holland@priory.lancs.sch.uk.

Competition closes Fri, 21 May | Prizes for the best three!