Mental Health
Do you have a young person struggling with their mental health or wellbeing?
Support can start in the home by making sure you talk and engage with your children as much as possible. Quality time without the distraction of electronic devices has enormous benefits for all. Help your children to limit and self-police their social media use - poor mental health and well being is hugely impacted by social media, and there are clear links between improved mental health and wellbeing with reduced use or exposure to social media. GPs can also be accessed for any help or support and are often a good first step. Encourage good attendance because this reduces the stress that can come about from missing lesson content and not fully understanding what is being taught. Being in school also supports important social development.
Whilst our core purpose is education, we are keen to do all we can to support our students with their mental health. We encourage our students to talk to us openly about how they are feeling and we have a range of support available to them.
The mental health provision at Clacton County High School includes:
- The Pastoral Team who can help with general concerns / worries about school and college life.
- The Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Panel who triage and seek to provide help with a specific issue e.g recent bereavement. This may result in referrals to the school counsellor or other professionals with the right skillset.
- The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) who can help and advise with early intervention work, referrals or therapy.
- The School Nurse who can help on a variety of issues including healthy relationships, health awareness, healthy lifestyle and sexual health.
Throughout the year we offer students opportunities to understand the various forms of support available and how to make their concerns to staff. MHST have information stalls key school events, and at calendared points during the school day at lunchtime. There are presentations throughout the year during tutor time and assemblies. Students can also use the MyConcern! reporting system not only to notify the school of a safeguarding concern, but to let us know of any worries they may be having about their mental health or wellbeing.
We endeavour to work in partnership with parents, so that the strategies we recommend to students are understood and encouraged at home. If you would like to learn more about mental health difficulties and the strategies we recommend, your explore the resources on this webpage or speak with a member of your child's pastoral team who may be able to help.
Below is a menu of guidance and self-help support resources:
