Secondary Mental Health Awareness Week

We at BVIS strive to support our students in becoming well rounded individuals, which includes looking after their academic, physical and mental well-being. Mental Health Awareness Week hopes to promote some of the Healthy lifestyle options that can help with good mental well-being, as well as raise awareness on what mental health issues are and how to support others.

Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off Monday morning for all students across Secondary School in tutor time looking at how stress affects the brain.  As the week goes on, other topic discussions such as ‘what is depression?’ and ‘how can we support others?’ will be explored during tutor time.

During the week each year group will be involved in a variety of hands-on workshops to do with mental health.  Year 11 will be looking at ways to manage exam stress, and year 9 and 10 looking at how things like food, exercise and sleep can affect our mental health. Year 8s will be having an exciting carousel of activities investigating how the creative arts can used therapeutically to manage stress levels, and year 7 will learn about mindfulness techniques that have be proven to help relief stress and combat anxiety.

Through the whole week the student council Well-being committee have activities running, including a house competition where students can add information to a House board under the theme of ‘Healthy Habits’, as well as quizzes in PSHE time and during lunch.

Room 147 has been transformed for the whole week into a ‘mindfulness’ room, where students can come and explore various methods and techniques for helping control and relieve stress including yoga, music therapy, mindful colouring, meditation and maze therapy.

This week also sees the launch of the ‘Worry box’ where students can write their concerns and expect responses from the student council Well-being team overseen by Mr Shoesmith and Ms Bartram.