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MENTAL HEALTH
to relax and recharge their batteries. They include sharing wellbeing-related resources, ranging from relaxing music to effective meditation apps. Another suggestion is to set up a buddy system, allocating teachers what could be described as a guardian angel – a colleague who’s there to watch over them, be around when they’re worried and offer praise when a teacher has, yet again, gone the extra mile for those around them at this incredibly difficult time. Helping children starts with the fundamentals, like being honest and avoiding secrets, so children realise that
Much of the onus, however, continues to fall on teachers. Like those elsewhere, school staff in our area have worked tirelessly to keep lessons going through the pandemic, many juggling their own family and caring responsibilities to make it happen. As their role expands to include a greater focus on pupil wellbeing, they also need additional support. Some organisations are offering resources to help teachers support each other, as well as their pupils. Young Minds and Mental Health at Work, for example, have created downloadable resources to help education professionals find ways
mental health being sounded by a range of experts, from the children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, to the mental health charity, Mind. While not every child is suffering, the figures make for grim reading. It’s estimated that mental health issues could affect one in six children. Wellbeing, resilience and mental health were already a priority during the first lockdown in 2020, with schools incorporating pastoral care within lessons or arranging sessions for pupils. Investment in school counsellors is set to increase – though not, thinks the children’s commissioner, by enough.
SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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