Sunshine Day News Issue 3

World Mental Health Day

This Sunshine Day, we thought about World Mental Health Day 10th October. Let’s talk, listen, and support better mental health together.

We also looked at the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child Article 12:
“I have the right to be listened to and taken seriously.”

Let’s talk, listen and support mental health together

It’s good to talk!

Who can I talk to?

• A member of your family.
• A friend.
• An adult at school.
• Someone on the phone who can help.

Start to talk

How do I start?

• You can practice what to say.
• You can write it down.
• Start simple “I need to talk” or “I don’t feel great”.

What should I say?

• Say as much or as little as you want – you are in control.

Being a good listener

Find a good time to talk

• Go somewhere quiet.
• Make sure you have time.

Really listen

• Look at them.
• Don’t interrupt.
• Show you care.

How to help a friend

Be there

Ask questions like

• “How can I help?”
• “What do you need?”

Remember: You don’t need to fix everything, sometimes listening is enough and asking “Are you ok?”. Everyone shows their emotions in different ways. If someone does or says something when they are emotional, try not to take it personally.

Activities and ideas to support your wellbeing

Music to dance to

We love this song called ‘Count on Me‘ by Bruno Mars all about helping your friends and being there for them when they really need you.

A friend who listens

Watch this story to find out how the pupils in this classroom helped their friend by listening to her problem and being good friends. Sometimes listening to a problem can really help.

Story to share

Ruby Finds a Worry a book by Tom Percival

In this story Ruby is worried about something. The worry gets bigger and bigger and stops her from doing all her favourite things. If you share your worries with a friend then it can make your worries go away.

Poem

Emotions

Happy one minute
Sad the next
Excited then worried
Emotions are complex.

Feelings are coming and going
To-ing and fro-ing
Ebbing and flowing
Over and over again.

 

Nervous and worried,
Scared and down
Eager and ecstatic
Happy with a frown!

You’re feeling the strain!

A mixture of emotion
Just filling your brain.
They cause such a commotion
Oh what a drain!

 

Change happens all the time!
Change is normal
Change can be fun
Change can be scary
Change must be done

So take your friend’s hand
And in friendship be bold
Move on in the world
And let the future unfold

By Debbie Palphreyman, ELSA Support 2016

The Student Wellbeing Champions

The Student Wellbeing Champions is a group of students, who have volunteered to be part of this important team. We meet every Wednesday to talk about how we can support other students with wellbeing. The Wellbeing Champions Team are Pese, Sam, Kadida, Student Y, Ilhaam, Tawhid and Riley. We thought it would be nice for you to get to know us, so we asked each other a question:

Why do you want to be a Wellbeing Champion?

Pese (Holland Park class) – I like helping people to remember it’s OK to not be OK.

Sam (Holland Park class) – I like to help and listen to everyone.

Kadida (Greenwich class) –  I like helping in the Wellbeing assembly.

Student Y (Falconwood class) – I like helping people and making them feel safe.

Ilhaam (Custom House class) – I think it is important to be kind.

Tawhid (Custom House class) – I like to help people to know who they can speak to.

Riley (St James class) – I want to help everyone!