Trinity High School is committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being support. It is important that our students understand how to look after both their physical and mental health and develop a toolkit of coping strategies for when difficulties arise. Happiness at HEART is Trinity’s student mental health service delivered by The Heart Centre.
Happiness at HEART has been developed to support students, parents and staff in understanding mental health issues and removing the stigma around talking about mental health, so that students don’t feel isolated, ashamed or misunderstood and know where to go for help. Over 50% of mental illnesses start before the age of 14 and 1 in 10 children and young people has a mental health disorder.
Schools are on the frontline when it comes to supporting children and young people’s mental wellbeing. Our staff are ideally placed to recognise and respond to early signs of mental health difficulties in children and young people.
We have a variety of services available to support students who are experiencing mental health problems. We work closely with a range of other services and can help direct you to the support you need. It is normal to feel down, anxious or stressed from time to time but if these feelings affect your daily activities, inside or outside of school, then you need to seek help.
Telling someone how you feel, whether it is one of our mental health first aiders or a friend, may bring an immediate sense of relief. What should I look out for?
Signs of depression and anxiety include:
- feeling low
- feeling more anxious or agitated than usual
- losing interest in life
- losing motivation
Some people also:
- put on or lose weight
- stop caring about the way they look or about keeping clean
- do too much work
- have sleep problems
- become withdrawn
What can you do to help?
There are a range of different things we do to help different people, depending on what is causing their mental health to suffer and what they need to help fix that.
Examples of things we can, and do, offer are:
- 1:1 Mental Health First Aid (Routine Appointments or Same Day Appointments for urgent issues).
- Group Sessions focused on helping with stress and general well-being.
- Referrals to professionally qualified counsellors and the school nurse.
- Parent Support Groups and Parent Advice Sessions
- Mindfulness Sessions
Advice and Wellbeing
Managing your wellbeing.
Here are a few tips to help young people cope with the stresses and strains of life, whether they are just starting with us or students revising for their exams.
- Physical health – doing exercise everyday will improve your concentration, memory and help you feel good and boost your confidence. https://www.nhs.uk/change4life is a website that can help you to improve your fitness and activity levels.
- Nutrition – eating a healthy diet will help to keep your energy levels and concentration high. A healthy diet includes complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, low sugar snacks and plenty of water. A great website to help you to find out how to eat and drink more healthily is https://www.nhs.uk/change4life
- Rest & recovery – it is important for adults and children to have time for rest, relaxation and “down time” as it can help us rebuild and revive ourselves. Rest and relaxation help to improve our productivity & concentration.
- Sleep – Getting enough sleep will reduce anxiety and stress while at the same time improving alertness and attention span. Older students should get 8 – 9 hours’ sleep each night, while younger students need more. However old you are, make sure you stop using electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime, to help you get to sleep.
- Stress management – Try to create personal strategies to help you to cope with anxiety or stress. Examples include breathing techniques, taking time out, mindfulness, talking to friends or physical activity.
Other organisations who can help:
| YOUNG MINDS The Young Minds crisis messenger service provides free, 24/7 mental health crisis support across the UK. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, you can text YM to 85258. |
| CHILDLINE Chat with a counsellor online about whatever’s worrying you. |
| CEOP Child Exploitation and Online Protection, support and guidance for young people and anyone concerned about a young person. |
| Headspace: Meditation and Mindfulness Made Simple (APP) Live a happier, healthier life with just a few minutes of mediation a day on the Headspace app |
| Reach4Wellbeing Promotes and supports emotional wellbeing for children and young people aged 5-19 years old within Worcestershire |
| Worcestershire Well Being Hub/Healthy Minds Worcestershire Healthy Minds supports people aged 16 and over who are experiencing such problems as stress, anxiety, low mood and depression. You can self-refer to Worcestershire Healthy Minds. |
| MOODGYM Moodgym is an interactive self-help program that provides cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) training to help users prevent and cope with depression and anxiety |
| PAPYRUS (PREVENTION OF YOUNG SUICIDE) PAPYRUS, Hopeline UK is a specialist telephone service staffed by trained professionals who give non-judgemental support, practical advice and information to Children, teenagers and young people or anyone who is concerned about a young person |
| CALM HARM Calm Harm is a Clinician-Developed App that helps manage the urge to self-harm |
| TALK TO FRANK Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today |
| #KNIFEFREE Facts on carrying knives, know the risks, help and support and real stories |
| KOOTH Is a free online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people |
| THE MIX Honest information and support for young people in the UK on a range of issues |
| TOUCHSTONES We provide free one-to-one support and weekend experiences for local children and young people who have had someone that they love very much die – and we believe we can make a difference. |
| KIDSCAPE Essential support for under 25s |
| ACTION FOR HAPPINESS Action for Happiness is a not-for-profit creating a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society, by helping people to take practical action drawing on the latest scientific research. |
| STEM4 STEM4 aims to improve teenage mental health by stemming commonly occurring mental health issues at an early stag Email: enquiries@stem4.org.uk |
| MIND National mental health charity, which offers an excellent range of materials on all aspects of mental health. It also lists details of local Mind Associations. Tel: 0300 123 3393 (Weekdays 9-5pm) Text: 86463 Email: info@mind.org |
| MUSLIM YOUTH HELPLINE The helpline service is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year including Bank Holidays and Eid. Offers support to young Muslims in distress. Email support, helpline & online internet counselling. 0808 808 2008 Freephone |
| Childline This app created by ChildLine with the input of 4 teenagers, includes all of childline’s services in an app: direct 121 access to a counsellor, videos, advice and chat on a range of issues that affect young people. It is safe and discreet, and can only be accessed by a PIN code. |
| MOODOMETER Developed by 2GETHER NHS Foundation Trust , and approved by NHS choices, this app is an interactive mood diary for monitoring and understanding emotional wellbeing. It includes tips and guidance on how to influence mood. |
| IT GETS BRIGHTER Mental Health Innovation Network |
| STUDENTS AGAINST DEPRESSION Students Against Depression offers information and resources validated by health professionals alongside tips and advice from students who have experienced it all themselves. |
| YOUTHHEALTHTALK! A website with video interviews of young people’s real life experiences of health and lifestyle. |
| ANXIETY UK Helps all those suffering with anxiety disorders. Self-help leaflets and contact lists. Self-help groups, counselling, phone self-help groups, email support. |
| NO PANIC No Panic is a registered charity which helps people who suffer from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders and other related anxiety disorders. Tel: 0844 967 4848 (10:00-22:00) Youth Helpline: 0330 606 1174 (Weekdays 15:00-18:00) |
| OCD ACTION Information and support relating to OCDs in children and young people. |
| CHATHEALTH Confidential texting service for young people aged 11-19yrs old. Managed daily by specialist school health nurses. Text 07507 331750 |
| SEXUAL HEALTH CONCERNS Please contact Arrowside clinic on 01527 516398. A sexual health nurse will be able to advise you on any concerns. |
| STAMP OUT SUICIDE Points of contact for those feeling suicidal, bereaved by suicide or concerned about suicide. Suicide awareness and prevention. |
| CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. |
| SELF INJURY SUPPORT For girls and young women up to 24 years in the UK affected by self-harm. |
| HARMLESS Provide a range of services about self-harm including support and information to those who self-harm, their friends, families and professionals. |
| LIFESIGNS Their mission is to guide people who hurt themselves towards new ways of coping, when they’re ready for the journey. |
| SELFHARMUK A national project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what’s going on in their life. |
| BEAT Advice and support available for those affected by eating disorders. |
| SAM This is a self-help app for anxiety which includes a personal toolbox, negative thought buster, colouring exercise and information. |
| STOP PANIC AND ANXIETY SELF-HELP This is a self-help app for people experiencing panic attacks. It can provide immediate audio assistance during a panic attack and help prevent panic attacks. |
| SELF-HEAL A free App to help with the management of self-harm. Includes distraction task suggestions, useful contacts, information on self-harm and a gallery of inspirational images. |
| MERMAIDS Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care. Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face. Helpline: 0808 801 0400 |
| MINDLINE TRANS+ Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone identifying as transgender, non-binary or genderfluid. They also support family members, friends, colleagues and carers. Mindline Trans+ provides a safe place to talk about your feelings confidentially. Helpline: 0300 330 5468 (Mondays and Fridays 8pm-midnight) |
| THE PROUD TRUST The Proud Trust is a lifesaving and life enhancing organisation that helps LGBT+ young people empower themselves, to make a positive change for themselves, and their communities. They do this through youth groups, coordinating national and regional LGBT+ youth work networks, delivering of training, running events and campaigns, undertaking research and creating resources. Helpline: 0161 660 3347, 9am – 5.30pm daily plus emergency calls on weekends Email: info@theproudtrust.org |
| Switchboard LGBTQ+ Helpline A safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional well-being, supporting people to explore the right options for themselves and aspiring to a society where all LGBT+ people are informed and empowered. Helpline: 0300 330 0630 – open 10:00-22:00 every day Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt |
