Parents & Carers

We all have mental health just as we all have physical health. Being mentally healthy means we feel good about ourselves, we can make and keep positive relationships and we are able to manage our emotions. Good mental health allows us to manage the ups and downs of life whilst feeling in control.

As children move through the various tumultuous transitions that accompany adolescence - physical, emotional, hormonal, sexual, social, intellectual - the pressures and problems they encounter can all too easily seem overwhelming. The majority of teenagers and young adults will navigate this, experiencing the usual highs and lows of this period of their life. Sometimes young people find themselves struggling to handle the pressure and the emotions that come with it.

KEY TIPS

Talk openly about mental health

Keep communication constant, open and honest. Your children should know they can talk to you about anything, you have to be committed to broaching topics of concern and do so openly. Talk about your own experiences and fears when you were an adolescent. Let them know they are not alone; nor are their anxieties unique.

Be attentive to your child's behaviour

Young people don't always tell us verbally how they are feeling but changes in behaviour can be strong indicators that they are struggling.

Model good habits

Young people are influenced by behaviours displayed around them. If you are taking care of your own mental wellbeing and implementing strategies when things aren't going well this will encourage your child to develop good habits.

MENTAL HEALTH 'RED FLAGS' PARENTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR

• Excessive sleeping, beyond usual teenage fatigue
• Difficulty in sleeping, insomnia
• Loss of self-esteem
• Abandonment or loss of interest in favourite pastimes
• Unexpected and dramatic decline in academic performance
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Personality shifts and changes, such as aggressiveness and excess anger that are sharply out of character 

SUPPORT IN SCHOOL

High Storrs’ pastoral team is second to none and supports mental health, emotional resilience, wellbeing and academia across the school. Whilst in school, Form Tutors, Heads of House, Heads of Year and Student Support Assistants are available for students to talk to and offer support and guidance. Contacts can be found on the Student Section.

In addition PSHCEE is taught to all students, and staff in this area have good knowledge of mental health and wellbeing, covering topics such as Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, Bullying, Homelessness, Government, Beauty/Media, Crime, Drugs & the Law, Marriage and Family, Justice, Addiction, On-line safety to name a few.

We also work with external agencies to provide education and training for students, staff and parents/carers, for example NSPCC, Samaritans and Amy Winehouse Foundation.