Mental Health and Wellbeing at SFDS

At St. Francis de Sales Catholic Junior School we are committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to all students, their families and members of staff. Our open culture allows students’ voices to be heard, and through the use of effective policies and procedures we ensure a safe and supportive environment for all affected - both directly and indirectly - by mental health issues.

The skills, knowledge and understanding our students need to keep themselves - and others - physically and mentally healthy and safe are included as part of our PSHE curriculum. We follow the guidance issued by the PSHE association to prepare us to teach about mental health and emotional health. Incorporating this into our curriculum at all stages is a good opportunity to promote students’ wellbeing through the development of healthy coping strategies and an understanding of students’ own emotions as well as those of other people.

Additionally, we use such lessons as a vehicle for providing students who do develop difficulties with strategies to keep themselves healthy and safe, as well as supporting students to support any of their friends who are facing challenges. Alongside our PSHE curriculum, a specific focus on looking after our emotional wellbeing is covered during our ‘Mental Health Week’ and is regularly revisited throughout the year.

We also work closely with a number of specialist agencies to help promote and support mental health within school such as: YPAS, Seedlings, CAMHS, school nurse team, ADHD Foundation, OSSME, Merseyside Youth Association, Mental Health Support Team (MHST); and have recently been included in the 'Trailblazer' project with CAMHS and Liverpool Learning Partnership. More information on the Whole School Approach to Mental Health can be found below.

Our school's mental health lead is Mrs. J. Carson, however, if you have any concerns about the mental health or welfare of a child, please speak to a member of the Mental Health Team or Safeguarding Team.