Mental Health and Wellbeing

At The Grange School we want our students to be as healthy as possible so that they can learn at their very best. We all understand what it means to be physically healthy – eating well, being physically active and looking after our physical health difficulties quickly and as effectively as possible.

But we are not all so familiar with what it means to be mentally healthy. Being mentally healthy is very important for effective learning. Having difficulties with being mentally healthy can cause huge problems with every-day life, not just with learning.

The Grange School wants to support students with their mental health as much as we can. As a school we have worked with Dorset Mind and their ‘Dorset Mind Your Head’ programme to consider what more we can do to educate, and to extend the support that we are currently able to offer to our students. As part of the work we have undertaken we have developed the following:

  • All students study a curriculum within PSHE lessons that look at the importance of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
  • Regular assemblies that raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing
  • Group sessions in Building Positive Relationships, Anger management, Exam Stress, Self Esteem
  • Trained ELSA that offers 1-1 sessions with a referral process from the Heads of Year

We also have Year 10 Wellbeing Mentors that have been trained by Dorset Mind. The Year 10 mentors are then able to offer guided, mentoring and befriending sessions to their younger peers during tutor time and during drop in sessions, they run alongside our trained ELSA. The drop in sessions give opportunities for students to discuss their concerns with a mentor or the school ELSA at break and lunchtime.

We also believe in the importance of building resilience in our students and through our school culture and ethos we have also ensured that we have considered the 7 C’s of resilience.

Young people live up or down to expectations we set for them. They need adults who believe in them unconditionally and hold them to the high expectations of being compassionate, generous, and creative.

Competence: When we notice what young people are doing right and give them opportunities to develop important skills, they feel competent. We undermine competence when we don’t
allow young people to recover themselves after a fall.

Confidence: Young people need confidence to be able to navigate the world, think outside the box, and recover from challenges.

Connection: Connections with other people, schools, and communities offer young people the security that allows them to stand on their own and develop creative solutions.

Character: Young people need a clear sense of right and wrong and a commitment to integrity.

Contribution: Young people who contribute to the wellbeing of others will receive gratitude rather than condemnation. They will learn that contributing feels good, and may therefore more easily turn to others, and do so without shame.

Coping: Young people who possess a variety of healthy coping strategies will be less likely to turn to dangerous quick fixes when stressed.

Control: Young people who understand privileges and respect are earned through demonstrated responsibility will learn to make wise choices and feel a sense of control.


Free Webinars

Anna Freud are running some free webinars over the summer. 

The first webinar will be for parents/carers with children waiting for their exam results

The second will be for those with children about to start Year 7.

The third webinar will be for young people themselves, helping them look after their own wellbeing as they start at university.  

Please find links for these below:

Supporting young people with anxiety before results day | Training | Anna Freud Centre – 8th August 2pm

Transition to secondary school: supporting your Year 7 child | Training | Anna Freud Centre – 9th August 2pm

Managing your wellbeing when transitioning to university | Training | Anna Freud Centre – 22nd August 2pm


Bereavement 

If you would like support with a bereavement please find below some useful website links with further information:

grieftalk helpline - Grief Encounter

Bereavement support for children and families | Winston's Wish (winstonswish.org)

Bereavement and young people - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Dealing with grief and loss | Mental health advice | YoungMinds

Understanding grieving teenagers | Child Bereavement UK

How to support a young person who is grieving | Sue Ryder

Get Support (mosaicfamilysupport.org)


Counselling

Please click on the link below for free or low cost counselling options for students

No cost low cost counselling and therapy options


Young Minds support for Mental Health Week 2023

Dorset Mind CYP Support

Dorset Mind CYP Safety Plan


BCP Mental Health Support Team Newsletter

MHST Newsletter


Parenting a Teen

Please click the box below for advice and resources for parenting a teen.

Parenting a Teen


Young Persons' Support

Please click the box below for further information on Young Persons' Support in Dorset and National Support 

Young Persons' Support


The links below may be of help to both students and parents:

https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/get-urgent-help/#are-you-a-young-person-in-crisis?

http://dorsetmindyourhead.co.uk/

https://www.kooth.com/

http://www.youngminds.org.uk

www.invictustrust.co.uk

http://www.mind.org.uk

http://rethink.org

www.safeguardchildrenea.co.uk    

Health for TeensNhs sexual health service

NHS Live Well

https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support

https://sexualhealthdorset.org/

https://sh24.org.uk/

Kooth Jan23 Newsletter

Coping with Self-Harm - A Parent's Guide

Local Organisations

The organisations that we have chosen to recommend to you below are self-referral; you can go along whenever suits you and talk to someone who can help.

Family Partnership Zone

New Horizons

Christchurch Community Partnership

BH23 Drop In

Chat Health

ChatHealth is a confidential text messaging service that enables children and young people (aged 11-19) to contact their local public health nursing (school nursing) team. Please click here for more information.

There is also Crisis Textline, which is open 24/7 - please click here for more information.


Courses Available for Parents

Me, you and Baby too

Getting is right for Children

Arguing Better