Wellbeing Wednesday - Mental Health Awareness Week
10 May 2023
Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation and is taking place from 15th-21st May, 2023. This year’s theme is ‘Anxiety,’ to help increase awareness and understanding of anxiety and think about things we can do to help us feel calmer and happier.
Having some anxiety – or worries – is totally normal. But sometimes our thoughts can get carried away and our worries get on top of us. It happens to lots of people. In fact, the Mental Health Foundation says anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. In a recent survey they carried out, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time.
On a positive note, there are lots of things we can do to help us feel less anxious. One very simple way is with kindness. Kindness is a simple way to help EVERYONE. When we are kind to each other, it helps us to feel connected, which means we forge new friendships or deepen existing ones. At Ecole Jacques Prévert, we teach children that kindness isn’t just a nice thing to do, but can help us improve our own mental health and wellbeing, while helping others at the same time.
Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, changing schools or other important life events and by providing information and bespoke workshops, we intend to help children getting through what could make them anxious more easily.
As we are conscious that transitioning from primary school to secondary school is an essential milestone in a child’s life, at Ecole Jacques Prévert, we have organised for the CM2 children to take part in a
Transition workshop in June to support them in celebrating their time at school, considering both the fresh opportunities that transition brings them and exploring ways of overcoming any challenges they might meet.
To complement this inspiring session, the conseillère principale d’éducation from the Lycée français Charles de Gaulle, came to visit the CM2 last term to give them some general information about the lycée in terms of pupil numbers, the different sections, the 6ème (Year 7) timetable, the liaison booklet, arrival and dismissal protocols and this gave the opportunity for the pupils to ask questions about the Lycée.
Finally, towards the end of the school year, the CM2 pupils will visit the Lycée and will be given a tour of the school, receive some explanations about the school life, the sick bay, the common room and all the other important elements that will help them find their way in their new setting. They will have lunch there and meet students from the Lycée as well. This will be a great way for them to find out more about their new secondary school and feel more confident to tackle this transition readily.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s mental health, please do not hesitate to contact me, I am here to help. Below are some links you may find useful:
Resources to support young people with feelings of anxiety
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/coping-with-stress/
Resources for parents and carers
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/anxious-child
Best wishes,
Mrs Weber