Mental Health Support at RPA

Mental health and emotional wellbeing are a huge priority at RPA. We make a conscious effort to discuss these issues with students as often as possible throughout the school year to keep mental health on the agenda and take away any stigma that discussing mental health may have traditionally had in society.

We deliver a range of assemblies and PSHE activities raising awareness of mental health support available across the school. These sessions inform and remind students about our school values and expectations and discuss the potential risks to themselves and others. We also signpost a wide range of support in and out of school and how to report any concerns or worries that they have. We are always really impressed with how mature and inquisitive students are when discussing these important topics that we build on in and out of curriculum time throughout their RPA journey.

In addition, all students work with local charity LVA Trust and the Mental Health Service through assemblies and a series of workshops to further develop their understanding of mental health through adolescence. These include how to manage transition, exam anxiety and building healthy relationships. We also offer a variety of parent workshops on transition, exam stress and attachment. Additionally, selected students are offered therapeutic and mentoring sessions with LVA, MHS and our pastoral team in small groups and 1:1 contexts to provide additional support. We are really lucky to have a large safeguarding team and an amazing full time school counsellor.

All students complete two AS Tracking assessments every year, and the results are used to track students’ emotional well-being and help identify any potential risk factors and hidden vulnerabilities.

As always, if you feel that your child would benefit from any extra support around safeguarding or their mental health, please get in touch by emailing safeguarding@richmondparkacademy.org. We are very fortunate to have a fantastic safeguarding team including a full time counsellor on site to support in any way we can. Please check our website which also signposts a wide range of external mental health support for families.

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Contact Us

If you are worried about something or someone, you can contact the “You Matter” team on their own email address. The mailbox will be manned from 8 am until 3 pm on a daily basis. Any out of hours emails will be contacted the next day. If an out of hours concern is urgent  please also get in touch with one of our recommended helplines listed below.

Current strategies

Resources

Useful Contact numbers

Childline -  0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk

Samaritans - 116 123 www.samaritans.org

YoungMinds - 0808 802 5544 www.youngminds.org.uk