Mental Health & Wellbeing Page

Schools and home play an important role in supporting mental health in young people and their are many proactive things that happen in school to support students in developing skills to manage mental health.

Schools play a role in creating a positive community that enhances a sense of connection and belonging in students. Using a whole school approach, schools can develop a safe and inclusive school environment and promote student mental health and wellbeing. This is best achieved by working in partnership with all members of the school community.

Schools can support students to develop:

social and emotional skills and capabilities that promote life-long mental health and wellbeing
skills to problem-solve and manage the normal stressors of life
healthy relationships and the ability to work cooperatively with others
a sense of autonomy and purpose.

Tier 1: Universal interventions

Tier 1 Universal interventions help schools to create a positive, inclusive and supportive school climate, building the preconditions for optimal student learning, development and wellbeing. They are the initiatives and programs schools adopt that are good for all students.

Tier 1 Universal activities promote positive mental health and develop all students’ social, emotional and behavioural abilities.

Activities can be implemented at a school, year, or classroom level. They are usually delivered by school staff. Community organisations or agencies may be employed to deliver some activities.

Programs include:

adopting a whole school approach to mental health - Social and Emotional Learning, Berry Street Education Model, Zones of Regulation, Goal Setting, etc
social and emotional learning
wellbeing animal programs - Dogs Connect at Surfside
mental health literacy
bullying prevention
peer support

External resources

Wellbeing in the Classroom

Students spend a large amount of time at schools and in class. A teacher may be the first person to notice that a student needs extra support. They might notice signs of an emerging mental health concern. Students often trust their teacher to help them.

Teachers can:

form positive relationships with their students
promote student voice and agency
hold high expectations of all students
create a safe, welcoming and inclusive classroom.

Teachers also support students to develop social and emotional skills. They can also help students develop a positive attitude about self, school and civic engagement. These skills and attitudes support academic engagement.

Supporting student mental health and wellbeing

There are many ways teachers can support the mental health and wellbeing of their students. Many of them are things teachers do on a day-to-day basis, with every class and every student. Some students may also need tailored or additional support.

It is important to note that teachers or school mental health and wellbeing staff are not trained as a therapist. However, teachers and support staff play a key role in supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Evidence shows teachers can have a profound impact on the mental health and wellbeing of their students.

This can be done by:

building strong and positive relationships with your students
reducing stigma surrounding mental health
promoting help-seeking and assisting students to access support
encouraging students to listen to and check in with each other
reinforcing that talking to a trusted adult about a friend isn’t betraying trust, but an important part of looking after each other
referring students to the school’s wellbeing team if required.

Our next newsletter will look at Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions that can support students further.

School Breakfast Club

Please join us in the school kitchen every Thursday morning to share breakfast with other students before starting the school day. Gluten free and dairy free options available.

Our Year 5 Student volunteers are doing an amazing job of setting up, taking orders, preparing food, serving and cleaning up under supervision.

Breakfast is served from 7.45 - 8.30am (last orders at 8.15am) - all welcome!