With around 1 in 6 people throughout England experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety and depression in any given week, staff at Lawn Manor Academy have taken it upon themselves to help remove the stigma surrounding poor mental health by training as Mental Health First Aiders.
Luke Stacy, Freya Koza, David Franklin and Sally Holgate at Lawn Manor Academy, part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, undertook an intensive course by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England and are now the school’s inaugural Mental Health First Aiders – the first point of contact for employees if they are experiencing emotional distress, or suffering from stress, anxiety or depression for example.
Freya Koza, maths teacher, comments: “Teaching during the pandemic was a lonely experience.
“Many of us were teaching virtually, which meant staring at a laptop all day long and being confined to one space, as we were unable to move around the school.
“Eating lunch on your own and not mixing with colleagues was very isolating. Coronavirus will have an impact on mental health and wellbeing, and our training has taught us how to recognise the signs and start a conversation with someone who may be experiencing mental ill health, to help signpost them in the direction of services that can help.”
The training from MHFA England is both proactive and preventative. Lawn Manor Academy has taken the decision to invest in the mental and emotional health of its staff, raising awareness that physical health is just as important as mental health. The school intends to extend the provision of Mental Health First Aiders to pupils in the future.
Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Mindful Employer support network, a national initiative recognising employers who value the mental health of staff within their organisations. Staff have access to an independent and confidential helpline service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to discuss work, relationships, health, debt or legal issues with fully qualified counsellors or psychotherapists.
A whole-school approach to mental health is important according to Lawn Manor Academy headteacher, Sandra Muir: “We have always reinforced with our pupils that it’s ok to say you’re not ok and we believe it’s important for our staff to model that behaviour, removing any stigma and talking more freely about mental health. It’s ok if you’re struggling and that applies to everyone in our school community.”
Luke, Freya, David and Sally have held sessions with staff to introduce themselves and although not counsellors, they will be a listening ear and will help people get the support they need in a non-judgemental manner.
