This assessment activity requires you to take action to promote an aspect of mental and emotional well-being in your school community by planning, implementing and evaluating a plan for health promotion that aligns with the Health Promoting Schools framework for a mentally healthy school. You will write a report which documents your involvement in, and evaluates, the health promoting action process.
You will work individually or in a group with up to four members to plan and use health promotion strategies to take positive action which links to the Mentally Healthy Schools (MHS) framework to bring about health-enhancing change in relation to an issue that relates to the mental and/or emotional well-being of members of your school community, that you have identified in your previous studies.
Although you will work in a group, you will need to document individually the planning, implementation and evaluation of your health promoting action.
You will be assessed on how well you develop and implement your plan, and evaluate its effect on well-being.
Week 5: Identify an issue and come up with a SMART goal
Week 6: Develop a detailed workable plan
Week 7: Implement & keep the log entry
Week 8: Implement
Week 9: Implement
Week 10: Implement & Report Due
Aims of Mentally Healthy Schools
· Promote mental health for all students and staff
· Educate for and about mental health
· Implement initiatives to support the mental health needs of students, staff, families.
What is mental and emotional well-being and mental health promotion?
· How adults and young people feel, think, behave and think about themselves
· Mental and emotional well-being is interdependent with other dimensions of hauora
· Mental health promotion aims to help individuals and communities take control over their own lives and improve their mental health.
Factors that underpin mental health promotion in schools
· Acknowledging the importance of school ethos (culture, values) and climate
· Comprehensive approach to mental health
· Empowerment and student involvement
· Addressing barriers to learning.
Mentally healthy schools in practice
· Student and staff well-being is supported by maintaining a safe social and emotional working and learning environment
· Students and staff are valued and encouraged to reach their full potential
· Self-worth is fostered through implementation of relevant policies and practices
· Positive mental health is modelled
· Positive effort and achievement is acknowledged
· Communication is respectful and attitudes are caring and nurturing
· Relationships between staff and students are warm
· Accessible and culturally supportive systems and services are provided.
Involving young people
· Empowering young people to make decisions helps foster resilience
· Involving young people in working in partnership with adults allows student ownership and shared decision-making.
What can schools do to promote mental health?
· Promote resilience, personal identity and self-worth
· Enhance connectedness to the school as well as other protective factors
· Implement mental health education programmes
· Provide supportive pastoral care and guidance systems and avenues for seeking help
· Provide a safe and supportive learning and social environment
· Develop clear processes for identifying, supporting, referring students at risk
· Support young people in distress and provide effective crisis and trauma support.
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