Students from Corby Technical School participated in a range of activities as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

In the RSCS (Religious, Social and Cultural Studies) lesson students talked about the different types of mental issues, the warning signs, and organisations that could help.

The children had three separate assemblies focusing on different aspects of mental health including why it is important to raise it as an issue, positive mental health and how to seek help. The final assembly was taken by the school nurse who explored how students could help improve their positivity to help their overall wellbeing and mental health.

Mr Mark Bidwell, organiser of the event said ‘The school nurse looked at quick wins for mental health like a positivity jar (good things that have happened that you can re-read when you need to). She also spoke about healthy diet, healthy sleep pattern and exercise.

The students had the chance to take part in a yoga class to help them de-stress. The class runs every Wednesday after school to help students wind down and develop coping strategies.

Mr Bidwell said ‘It has been a really brilliant week, the students have completely surpassed everything we have thrown at them. They responded brilliantly in assemblies and participated in discussions about mental health. The students all found it really interesting and it has made them more aware of how we can support them and direct them to services they might need.

‘I hope students continue talking about mental health and will be more willing to speak about any issues that they are going through.’