4 Ways to Build an Emotionally Healthy School

Promoting positive emotional health at school is super important! Not only will it help students with their wellbeing and expressing their feelings more, it will build confidence and increase their desire to learn.

Mrs Walmsley, Headteacher at Park Road Sale Primary School, talks about her school and how she helps her students with their development: “I love the fact that I’m able to instil in children the… ethics and the ethos and the values that they become really good citizens… and [make] a difference in children’s lives.”

By building an emotionally healthy school, you can help your students to believe in themselves and know how to deal with situations for their future. To help build one, we’ve come up with four handy tips!

Connect with Your Students

One way to create an emotionally healthy school is to connect with your students and build relationships. Too often we ask questions such as “are you okay?” and get one word responses. When you go beyond these questions and ask students what makes them happy, what interests them or what they’re passionate about, you’ll show that you care about them as people as well as students. You could ask these questions in after-school clubs or as they enter class.

Know the Signs

Make sure you’re aware of the signs of mental issues such as anxiety or depression. That way, you can be on the look-out for them. By being aware of any issues earlier rather than later, you can intervene in a timely manner and help build a more emotionally healthy environment.

Take PSHE Lessons

Schools can provide resources and make students aware of emotional and mental health in their PSHE lessons too. Providing PSHE lessons can help everyone look out for each other and themselves.

For a quick lesson resource, you can use our Pictograms Topic Tool and select the ‘How do you feel?’ theme. Put it up on the board and get your students to come up and select the way they feel. That way, you can see your class’ emotions and see if anyone needs support.

Encourage Healthy Eating

A healthy diet not only makes your brain work more effectively but it also helps you feel better and boosts your energy levels. To build a more emotionally healthy school, encourage your students to have a healthy diet.

These are just some of the ways in which you can build a more emotionally healthy school. Is there anything you do in your school other than this? Tell us in the comments below!