Mental Health and Wellbeing
Supporting the Wellbeing of Every Child and Family
At St John’s Middle School, we believe in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing to ensure that our school is a community where everyone feels happy, safe and able to thrive. Our school values underpin all that we do.
Wellbeing Ambassadors
At school we have a group of pupils who work as our wellbeing Ambassadors. Wellbeing Ambassadors are pupils who have shown a real interest in championing positive mental health and wellbeing. These pupils are keen to share their learning around mental health and advertise the importance of self-care. The Ambassadors have a responsibility for leading and promoting wellbeing throughout school. They drive the message forward and release the stigma around talking about challenging feelings and encourage people to talk. Wellbeing Ambassadors provide feedback on what’s working well and highlight any gaps in whole-school approaches to wellbeing.
What if my child is experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing?
Mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time and neither does it mean avoiding stresses altogether. One of the most important ways to help your child is to listen to them and take their feelings seriously.
If you are ever worried about your child’s mental health and wellbeing then, just as you would about any concerns that you have about their learning, please contact your child’s class teacher or head of year. Sometimes children will need additional support for a short period – this may be in the form of a daily check-in with a trusted adult, time to talk through what they are feeling and support in developing ways of moving forwards with this.
Support in our school
We have a strong wellbeing network in school, including:
Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Gallinagh
Senior Mental Health Lead: Ms Birmingham
Mental Health First Aider: Mrs Shepherd,
Nurture and Pastoral Team (Including Trauma Informed and ELSA Trained staff): Ms Alexander, Mrs Butt, Ms Southall, Ms Lacey and Mrs Paterson.
Behaviour and Pastoral - Assistant Headteacher: Ms Birmingham
SENDCO - Assistant Headteacher: Mrs Shepherd
Contact Us
St John’s Middle School is proud to be a Trauma and Mental Health Informed School.
This means we aim to:
- Help children understand and manage their emotions
- Create a safe, compassionate, and supportive environment
- Build strong relationships through staff training and awareness
- Maintain learning and wellbeing, even when life feels challenging
If you’d like to speak to our Trauma Informed Practitioner, please contact:
Mrs Jo Alexander or speak to your child’s form teacher for more information.
📞 01527 832376
Contacts, Resources and Online Support
Samaritans: 24 hour confidential telephone, email and text message service. 08457 909090 or 01905 21121 – Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen
NHS Choice: 24 hour national helpline providing health advice and information. Call 111 www.nhs.uk
Mind Infoline: Helpline open Mon-Fri (except bank holidays) 0300 123393 www.mind.org.uk
GP: Request an emergency appointment or get advice.
Stay Alive App: A suicide prevention pocket resource. Offers help and support and can be personalised for and by individuals www.prevent-suicide.org.uk
Online Suicide Help: List of mental health services available online www.unsuicide.wikispaces.com
Young Minds web: YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people www.youngminds.org.uk
The Mix website: Honest information and support for young people in the UK on a range of issues www.themix.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation website: Charity improving the lives of those with mental health problems or learning disabilities www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Kooth: Online mental health counselling and well-being service for children and young people https://xenzone.com/kooth/
MindEd website: At its heart, MindEd provides practical knowledge that gives adults confidence to identify a mental health issue and act swiftly, meaning better outcomes for the child or young person involved www.minded.org.uk
Child Line: 0800 1111 (UK), 24 hours a day chat: chat online email web www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC: Offers a wide range of advice and support www.nspcc.org.uk
ACAMH: Online Resources www.acamh.org
Website: Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage
Eating Disorder Advice
Beat
Adults over 18 including parents, teachers or concerned adults 0345 634 1414 - . (Mon-Wed, 1pm-4pm) Support forums (7 days a week) email: help@b-eat.co.uk
Under 25s. 0345 634 7650 - (Mon-Wed, 1pm-4pm)
Support forums (7 days a week) email: fyp@b-eat.co.uk web: www.b-eat.co.uk
Addiction advice
FRANK 0300 123 6600 (UK), 24 hours a day live chat (UK), 2-6pm email SMS: 82111 - Need a quick answer? Text a question and FRANK will text you back. website: www.talktofrank.com
Please read our Help and Support for Children and Families, for more information about services in the local area.