Under the banner of the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, the team provides early intervention mental health support for children and young people, aged 5–18, in schools and colleges. They also offer support for parents, including workshops and parent-led therapy sessions, plus one-to-one support for children and young people experiencing issues such as low mood, anxiety, and poor sleep.   

The team’s assembly explored how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are linked together and can have an impact on each other, sometimes creating a cycle for negative thinking. To help combat this, emphasis was given to the need for good routines, particularly with sleep, which can help people recharge their social batteries and refresh themselves. Students also learned of the benefits of exercise, self-care, journalling, communication and socialising, and mindfulness.

Also highlighted were the ‘five ways to well-being’ – a set of evidenced-backed tips for improving mental health and increasing positivity that, amongst other things, encourage connections with other people, being active and taking notice of things around you. 

Led by the Mental Health Foundation, a UK charity whose mission is ‘everyone deserves good mental health’, the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week was ‘Movement’ – a topic which provided a direct link to a recognised way to well-being that encourages physical activity as a means of improving mental health.

Andrea Monaghan, Head of Personal Development, said: “At Withernsea High School, we know how important mental well-being is for our whole community. In our Personal Development lessons we frequently consider actions that we can all take that will help us to manage the ups and downs of life: things like building phone/screen-free time into our day, talking about how we feel, making time to do something we enjoy and to learn something new, mindfulness activities, spending time outside, good sleep hygiene, and movement and exercise.

“The role that exercise plays in supporting our mental well-being was the main theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year and, as a school, we offer a very wide range of opportunities for both students and staff to participate in movement and exercise including staff Yoga, Gym and Fitness sessions, a Running Club, Football and Dance clubs, to name but a few.”

A spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation said: “We started Mental Health Awareness Week in 2001, and as a vital part of our work as a charity, we continue to set the agenda - theme and dates, as well as coordinate activities for the week. In recent years, it has evolved to focus on preventing mental health problems and has become one of the most high-profile public campaigns in the UK.

“Mental health is one of the most important foundations for a healthy and long life. We want to build a society with good mental health where everybody can thrive. Our work involves researching, developing and advocating for new and more effective ways to support and protect good mental health.

“One of the most important things we can do to help protect our mental health is regular movement. Our bodies and our minds are connected, so looking after ourselves physically also helps us prevent problems with our mental health. Exercise releases ‘feel good’ hormones, that reduce feelings of stress and anger. It also helps us feel better about our bodies. It can improve our sleep too. If it involves other people, like being part of a team, a class or group we see regularly, that can also boost our mental health.

“Despite these benefits, so many of us struggle to move enough. We know there are many different reasons for this, so this Mental Health Awareness Week we wanted to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines.

BELOW: Students seeking help for their mental health and well-being, either in or out of school, have access to a number of organisations, staff and resources that can help them through a variety of issues: