As a school we are passionate about understanding and supporting Mental Health. Highfields offer a wide range of interventions and support mechanisms to support Mental Health and we are proud to announce that we now also have a team of Mental Health Champions in school.
One of the primary goals of the Mental Health Champion Team is to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The team believe that educating students about various mental health conditions, their causes, and symptoms, means they are more likely to seek help and support when this is needed.
Twenty Year 12 and 10 students received Mental Health Champion training last week. The training was very thorough and enjoyable and has developed empathy and compassion amongst students. Through workshops, discussions and real-life scenarios, students learnt to put themselves in the shoes of others and to understand the challenges faced by individuals who may be struggling with Mental Health. Students were also taught essential coping skills and resilience strategies that can be promoted and shared with peers in school.
Mental Health Champion Training also encourages the formation of peer support networks within the school community. These networks act as a safe place and ensure that students do not feel alone and isolated if or when they are struggling to manage their mental health. Peer support can make a significant difference to students and often provides a level of understanding and comfort that is unique to individuals of the same age group.
The Mental Health Champion Team are very keen and eager to start working on projects that they created last week. For their first project, Mental Health Champions have created a Mental Health Advent Calendar that will be shared with students and staff throughout everyday in December.
