Five Steps to Mental Health and Well-being: A School-Wide Approach

A comprehensive program based on the five steps to mental health and well-being framework, designed to create a strategic, whole-school approach to mental health support and development. Emphasizes auditing existing provision, fostering transparent conversation, and actively involving the entire school community (staff, governors, parents, and students). Addresses the critical importance of emotional well-being, particularly in the post-pandemic context, and highlights the strong link between mental health and academic attainment. Engage with practical activities designed to promote understanding, collaboration, and sustainable change within your school.

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Program Modules

🔍

Phase 1: Audit Existing Provision

Evaluate current mental health support systems and resources within the school. Identify strengths and gaps in provision through evidence-based methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups. This module emphasizes personalized goal-setting to promote ongoing engagement.

Gather Data on Current Mental Health Provisions

Monthly

Collect data from various stakeholders (students, staff, parents) through surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand the current landscape of mental health support. Habit stacking: link survey completion with existing staff meeting time. Implementation intention: 'If I have 10 minutes free during lunch, then I will send out the parent survey.'

quiz

Identify Gaps in Mental Health Support

Monthly

Analyze the collected data to pinpoint areas where mental health support is lacking or insufficient. Frame goal with loss aversion: Highlight what the school stands to lose if mental health gaps are not addressed.

reflection
🗺️

Phase 2: Develop a Strategic Approach

Create a comprehensive plan aligned with the school action plan to address identified gaps and enhance mental health support. Focus on a strategic, whole-school approach, using implementation intentions. 'If we allocate 30 minutes each week, then we will make consistent progress on the action plan.'

Develop New Initiatives

Monthly

Brainstorm and create new initiatives to address the identified gaps. Consider initiatives for students who may not reach out for support. Social Accountability: Announce initiative ideas in a staff meeting for peer support and feedback.

discussion

Involve the Whole School Community

Monthly

Engage staff, governors, and parents in the development and implementation of the strategic plan. Leverage social norms: Showcase examples of successful initiatives from other schools to inspire participation.

discussion
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Phase 3: Implement the Development Plan

Put the strategic plan into action, rolling out new initiatives and enhancing existing support systems. Pay attention to consistent messaging. Break the goal into smaller actionable items. Schedule in a staff check-in to maintain support and provide space to discuss challenges.

Phase 3: Implement the Development Plan

Yearly

Put the strategic plan into action, rolling out new initiatives and enhancing existing support systems. Pay attention to consistent messaging. Break the goal into smaller actionable items. Schedule in a staff check-in to maintain support and provide space to discuss challenges.

simulation
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Phase 4: Review and Maintain Momentum

Regularly review the implemented plan to ensure it is effective and meeting the needs of the school community. Adapt and adjust as necessary. Consistency is key. Review data and adjust goals accordingly. Frame review sessions as a check-in to sustain the development plan, rather than an audit.

Phase 4: Review and Maintain Momentum

Yearly

Regularly review the implemented plan to ensure it is effective and meeting the needs of the school community. Adapt and adjust as necessary. Consistency is key. Review data and adjust goals accordingly. Frame review sessions as a check-in to sustain the development plan, rather than an audit.

“just because you've implemented something that need you need to go back you need to review those things what you what your school might need at one point in the year might be very different to another pinch point in the year as well so just making sure that the approach is flexible”

reflection
🌐

Phase 5: Networking and Continuous Improvement

Focus on networking with external resources and continuously learning to improve the school's mental health provision. Leadership involvement is crucial. Celebrate small wins. Frame goals with present bias: emphasize immediate benefits of continuous improvements and networks established.

Phase 5: Networking and Continuous Improvement

Yearly

Focus on networking with external resources and continuously learning to improve the school's mental health provision. Leadership involvement is crucial. Celebrate small wins. Frame goals with present bias: emphasize immediate benefits of continuous improvements and networks established.

“Networking is so important being able to find out what's available in the local area building relationships because again those people are going to add capacity to what what you offer”

discussion