Bridgnorth Endowed School has gone the extra mile to boost mental health provision for its pupils through a brand-new peer-to-peer support initiative, which has just been launched.
Twenty one students received a full day of specialist training to become Mental Health Champions at a kickstarter course delivered by children’s health and wellbeing crusaders, One Goal, last Friday.
The rigorous selection process saw students from across the school undertaking exercises and learning all about the role, before the final group began their training journey to prepare them for the challenge.
The course covered key facts and looked at mental health on a personal level, it taught them how to use effective strategies to look after their own mental health as well as others, and showed them how to recognise warning signs and issues.
Year 10 student and Mental Health Champion, Amelie Maynard, said: “I learnt a lot from the course. It helped me understand what I need to do in order to help others and how to keep my own mental health on track.”
Teacher and project leader, Mr Chase, explained: “We were delighted by the response to this incredibly exciting and important programme. As a school, we try to support all of our students by encouraging a greater understanding of mental health and how they can develop a ‘toolkit’ to help them maintain a positive outlook.”
“We hope that, by having the Mental Health Champions in place, students who are experiencing difficulties will feel more supported and be more likely to reach out to talk to their peers.”
The new team of ‘champions’ are now ready to get to work and have been tasked with increasing awareness of the importance of mental health and promoting more open discussions.
Bridgnorth Endowed’s Mental Health Champions: Lottie Griffin (7IN), Harvey France (7IN), Lilly Evans (7SC), Grace Ashling (7SC), Flora Cole (7SC), Damon Butler (7SC)¸ Alex Smith (7VE), Amelia Morris (7VE), Jack Brown (7VE), Niamh McQuoid (7VI), Reubin Plain (8IN), Jack Jones (9VE), Ryan Gaff (9VE), Harry Phillips (9VI), Isla Powell-Bevan (9IN), Sophie Jewkes (9SC), Amelie Maynard (10SC), Freddie Morris (10SC), Mary Harford (10VE), Alessia Culshaw (10VE), Maddie Iddles (10VE)
