Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health. Good mental health involves you investing time to process and understand your thoughts and feelings. Time can be as much or as little as you can manage, however by investing regularly in your mental wellbeing, you can benefit from increased resilience, develop coping strategies and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. All of which can also result in improvements to your physical wellbeing.
When looking after your mental health we aim to focus on the below points: • Understanding the value of emotions • Recognising thoughts and feelings • Reducing stress • Allowing healing from stress and anxiety • Recognising and treating depression • Seeking positive growth • Developing a healthy mindset Supporting staff with their mental wellbeing is vital in creating an effective wellbeing culture within your school. Happy, positive staff positively impacts the children. Fostering an environment of positivity causes staff to remain in their jobs and schools for longer which has a great impact on the children in establishing their trust and routines, often having an improved impact on pupil behaviour. There are lots of ways your school can support your staff with their mental wellbeing, ranging from providing access to professional help and counselling (see Wellbeing Services for more information), accredited Mental Health Training and creating a culture that takes time to talk and listen to one another.
Here are some great tools to get you started:
Coping with Stress – The Stress Container - Cantium
Finding mental health support in your local area
Mind Wellness Action Plans (WAPs) Guide for line managers
Mind Wellness Action Plans (WAPs) Guide for employees
Mind Wellness Action Plans (WAPs) Working from Home Wellness Action Plan