With increased demand to support students with their mental health, it’s understandable for school staff to feel pressure. This World Mental Health Day, which focuses on prioritising workplace mental health, Alex from our schools service shares some ideas on how teachers and pastoral leads can look after their own emotional wellbeing.
1. Don’t carry anything in isolation. It can feel heavy to carry information that a young person has shared with you. Tap into your support network in and outside of school to share the load.
2. Reach out to others. School staff have a lot of responsibilities and it often isn’t easy. If you need a sounding board, specialist guidance or space to reflect on or explore your experiences, organisations who support schools like Just ‘B’ are a great place to turn.
3. Remember you don’t have to have all the answers. Because we care, we can feel pressure to help. But don’t feel you have to wave a magic wand and make the situation better. Often, just listening to a child or young person can have a huge impact in giving them a safe space to express their feelings.
Watch Alex, our Children and Young People’s Manager, share some thoughts on how school staff can look after themselves when looking after young people:
Are you a member of school staff interested in how Just ‘B’ can support you with your and your students’ mental health? You’re welcome to email Alex at justbcyp@justb.org.uk.
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