Pupils learn how to face their fears in special mental health workshop
Looking after our mental health has never been as important as it is today, which is why we’re always delighted to learn of schools going that extra mile to support pupils in this area.
For students at Thornhill, Heworth Grange and Washington academies (part of Consilium Academies) this support took place in the form of a school workshop about how to manage stress and anxiety.
We must stamp out the social stigma
Pupils at the three schools were visited by a charity called Mind of the Student which aims to give young people the confidence to speak about their mental health.
The workshops were scheduled in the same week as World Mental Health Day, which is an international day to promote mental health education and awareness, as well emphasise the importance of stamping out social stigma surrounding poor mental health.
Mind of the Student says its work helps to ensure that no student in school goes without essential training on mental health. It equips them with the knowledge, confidence and skills to recognise and address their own mental health needs.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “Huge well done to Consilium Academies for taking this proactive approach to supporting pupils’ mental health. One in five children and young people in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023, making this a critical, ongoing issue that we can’t turn away from.”
“It has been a boost to my confidence and I can learn to face my fears”
The charity organised a range of demonstrations, including using the visual analogy of a bucket filling up and overflowing with water to demonstrate how pressures can build up over time. Unsurprisingly, the students at all three Consilium academies enjoyed the workshop.
One Year 10 student at Thornhill Academy said: “I really enjoyed the topic because it helped us understand how to face types of anxieties and that I shouldn’t keep things to myself.” Another added: “I think this has been really helpful for the future, because we all have times where things are new, like work experience, and we might feel down.”
One Thornhill pupil said: “I enjoyed the session and I learned that I shouldn’t let anyone play with my feelings. It has been a boost to my confidence and I can learn to face my fears.” Another said: “I enjoyed the session because I learned that if I am ever struggling with my mental health I can talk to someone and take some alone time for myself.”
One student said: “I learned today that you have to be comfortable with whatever makes you happy and find hobbies that will relieve your stress so you don’t over think and you won’t have too much anxiety.” While another noted: “They helped us to understand how mental health can differ for different people and why we shouldn’t judge people based on their mental health. I really enjoyed the session.”
A fantastic way to help prepare for ‘life’
Cherry Crooks, Assistant Head Teacher at Thornhill Academy, said: “The students enjoyed the workshop and learnt a lot from the session and we would like to thank Mind of the Student for coming to our academy.
“At Thornhill Academy, we strive to recognise and develop the whole child – physically, socially and intellectually – so that they can lead successful and fulfilled lives, and we hope this workshop will help students to maintain a positive mental outlook as they mature into young adults.”
Head Teacher at Heworth Grange Academy, Neil Rodgers, said: “Our students learnt a lot from the Mind of the Student workshop and we hope that it will help them to develop an understanding of ‘self’ and help prepare them for life.
“At Heworth Grange we aim to be a real family away from home and to provide a safe, happy and caring working environment where each student is valued.”
Head Teacher at Washington Academy, Vicky Carter, said: “The workshop was great fun and it was a pleasure to see the students engaging so well with it.
“At Washington, we seek to raise levels of personal and social awareness so that we can significantly raise the life chances of our students.”
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Bookings are now open for the Schools North East Healthy MindED 2025 conference. Now in its eighth year, the Healthy MindED Conference continues its mission to empower all school professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to support the mental health and wellbeing of the children and young people in their care.
It’s not only focused on student wellbeing, but also recognises the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of school staff. The conference will provide delegates with resources and strategies to enhance their own wellbeing.
Consilium Academies is a Schools North East Partner Trust . If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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