Mental Health and Wellbeing at Carew Academy

Mental health is:

• How we think and feel about ourselves and others.
• How we interpret events and cope with change, transition and life events.
• How we learn and communicate.
• How we form, sustain and end relationships.

(The World Health Organisation (WHO))

The impact of mental health issues on adolescents and young people can be negative and detrimental to their education. A lack of concentration and motivation can lead to difficulties in cognitive development and creates barriers to educational achievements. Self-esteem and self-confidence can also be affected, or even lost as a result of poor mental health or mental health issues.

At Carew Academy we are committed to ensuring the positive wellbeing and mental health for the school community including all students and staff so we can learn successfully for life, as well as develop and maintain positive relationships amongst ourselves.

Carew Academy are proud to be part of the new NHS trailblazer scheme in Sutton with 8 other schools. As part of this project we will have an EWP (Educational Wellbeing Practitioner) join the school one day a week to support young people with mild and emerging mental health issues such as low level anxiety and depression.

We also have a Mental Health First Aider for young people who can support where necessary and offer further support. They will also work in collaboration with the Designated Safeguarding leads, Family Liaison Officer and Student Support to promote the safeguarding of all the pupils and their families. The whole school approach for positive mental health also includes support for students from the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) team and other therapies offered such as drama therapy, speech and language and occupational therapy.

Within the curriculum offer and specifically embedded into the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) curriculum students are actively taught about resilience and mental health, with techniques to promote positive mental health and wellbeing through mindfulness and other strategies, including the link between good physical and mental health. Carew also focus on developing resilience and understanding social and emotional learning. Students from year 10 upwards also complete a Personal and Social Education accreditation focusing on Emotional Wellbeing, Sex and Relationships and Healthy Lifestyles.

If you have any concerns about the mental health of a young person at Carew Academy please contact your child’s tutor. In addition, this web page below has a list of helpful contacts. Some of these are local to Sutton, while others are nationwide, but all offer information and support.

Please click here for more online information and support. 

Also, as part of the NHS Mental Health trailblazer scheme, Carew Academy had a visit from Kooth which is free, safe and anonymous online support. Students can talk to friendly trained counsellors, read articles written by young people and find self-help advice, as well as write down feelings and thoughts in a daily journal. More details regarding this can be found at www.kooth.com

During the unprecedented health situation that the world has found itself in recently, please also find below some excellent resources to support during this time:

• Coping with stress during the outbreak
• Helping children cope with stress during the outbreak
• List of 10 resources for young people and carers
• Looking after your mental health while self-isolating
• Supporting children with SEN during isolation
• Talking to your children about scary world news
• Top tips for teens during COVID-19