This week Corby Technical School have taken part in a variety of activities to support Mental Health Awareness Day. The Samaritans led an assembly and the school received a visit from Tessa Parkins, the Joint Programme Manager of the Mental Health Stigma Programme.

Tessa visited the school as part of her ‘Challenge Tessa’ initiative, in which she hopes to encourage more people to speak out about their Mental Health issues. Tessa visited as many schools as she could around the county from 1^st-9^th February to drop off resources including balloons, leaflets and a hand stamp. As part of her challenge she asked schools to stamp her jumpsuit with the school logo and share it on social media to show support of Mental Health.

During the week, a group of students ranging from Year 7 to 11 were also awarded Well-being Champions. Students were nominated by both peers and members of staff for being recognised as caring individuals who always look out for others around the school.

To end the week, the Samaritans held an assembly in the hall. The students then released 50 balloons at 12pm, along with other schools across the county to help raise awareness of mental health and encourage more people to speak out.

Mr Bidwell said ‘The children already know what mental health is from the Mental Health week we put on in October, so this week we have focused on ‘being silent isn’t being strong’ and ‘ditch the baggage’ to try and encourage students to open up and talk about any problems they experience.’