This morning, our newly appointed wellbeing ambassadors attended their first training session with Mrs Oshodi.  The group discussed what mental health is, identified some statistics regarding mental health in secondary age pupils and developed techniques to support pupils in our school.  This training is also part of the many activities taking place this week as part of our celebrations for World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October.  Here at Smestow Academy, we are committed to providing a welcoming and caring environment and to be able to promote positive mental health support in our school will help us to achieve this.

Our Smestow Six Mental Health Ambassador Sophie Phelps, had this to say about our session this morning: “The Mental Health Ambassador training meeting created an inclusive and welcoming environment in which all students involved felt comfortable contributing to. The meeting clearly outlined the duties and purpose of the role, as well as using interactive activities to understand serious topics in greater depth. As a member of year 13, I believe that the training created positive engagement, establishing connections from key stage 3 to sixth form. As the sixth form mental health ambassador, I will not only be taking on duties such as being the voice for those who choose to come to me for advice or suggestions and promoting mental health tips, but also I will oversee the younger students that have also chosen to be a mental health ambassador, giving them advice and being a role model. This role will be beneficial experience for my chosen career of clinical psychology and will allow me to apply my studies of psychology to real life, expanding my transitional skills at the same time, which will prepare me for the start of my University journey.”