Health & Wellbeing
The current school closure instigated by the government to help control the spread of coronavirus will inevitably result in mixed emotions for many students. Initial euphoria associated with the extra time off is likely to be replaced with some anxiety about schoolwork and future progress. We will of course seek to support all our students through this, but to help parents you may find some of the advice below helpful.
What are the signs my child my be struggling with their mental health?
Sometimes changes in behaviour or emotions are a sign that students need more support for their mental health.
Here are some signs to watch for:
- Changes in behaviour or emotions that seem out of proportion even with the current circumstances (e.g., angry outbursts, depressed mood, sense of panic).
- The changes last most of the day, every day.
- The changes last for a sustained period of time (e.g., more than a week).
- The changes seem to interfere with your child’s or teen’s thoughts, feelings or daily functioning – for example, they may not do activities they normally enjoy, they’re crying more than usual, or they may not interact with you as much as they usually do.
- Your child or teen tells you they’re feeling sad or anxious a lot.
- If your child expresses thoughts of hurting them self or engages in suicidal behaviour, seek help from a mental health professional immediately (see emergency protocols above and below).
You may find the following links useful for further information:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-out