Mental Health Awareness Week is organised and hosted by the Mental Health Foundation – a charity focused on mental health prevention and helping people to understand, protect and sustain their mental health. It is an opportunity to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice. This year’s theme is loneliness, as its impact has been particularly detrimental during and after the pandemic.

Our Psychology Department organised a series of events for the week, including a mindfulness session, a charity bake sale, and an Instagram positivity campaign. During the bake sale, the Psychology Department raised £192 which will be donated to The Silver Line (a charity providing support, information and friendship to the elderly) and the Mental Health Foundation (a charity which aims to find and address the source of mental health issues so individuals and communities can thrive). In a mindfulness session, our school counsellor, Mrs Whitten talked to the students about the importance of slowing down and finding time in the day for themselves, even if it is five minutes. She spoke about how mindfulness works and how it is about engaging all of your senses in order to quieten your thoughts. Students then listened to a guided meditation which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

On Thursday, 11 Psychology students delivered a ‘Peer Education Project’ assembly to the Sixth Form on loneliness and mental health. With 73% of ‘Gen Z’ reporting feeling lonely, the assembly discussed key tips and advice of how to cope when you are experiencing feels of loneliness. Later in the day, New Hallian Rebecca Coughlan visited the School to give the Psychology Society a talk on working as a prison Case Manager. Her job involves prisoner rehabilitation and supporting prisoners back into society after their release. She discussed issues of mental health support for both prisoners and staff.

On Friday, to spread positivity and remind ourselves of what matters, the Psychology Department Instagram account @psychology_newhall asked its followers to respond to a story asking them to think about when they are happiest. The Department shared the answers anonymously – they included mentions of time spent with family, beach holidays, good weather, concerts with friends, eating and cooking, doing sports, etc.

If you are struggling with your mental health, please remember that staff at New Hall are here to support you. External support is also available – you can call or text ‘the Mix’, ‘shout’ and ‘Samaritans’ at any time to receive immediate help.