Marking Mental Health Awareness Week

Monday 11th to Friday 15th May has seen a plethora of positive activities around the Park reminding students of the ways they can build resilience and strengthen their wellbeing.

From petting a dog, to sharing food and friendship, from creating art or music to taking a nature bath and strolling around the school’s 65-acre parkland enjoying the magnificent trees; there are many small activities that make a real difference every day to the joy of our school community.

This week we have officially marked the Mental Health Organisation’s Mental Health Awareness Week with our students involved in a variety of activities along the theme 'Every Action Counts'.

The week began with Year 7 sharing their charity fundraising ideas with the whole school during Collect. We were so proud of their confidence and poise whilst sharing their sales pitches for their charity sale event which took place on Thursday during PSHE for the whole school. We aim to raise as much money as possible to support a range of charities and were delighted that the efforts of our Fryers generated £1,516!. In addition to handmade socks and lemonade, a chocolate foundation, music performances, crochet animals and plant bundles.

The Senior school’s Social Enterprise Group were also fundraising this week, building on last week’s £167 of ice-cream sales, the club generated £145.38 from their fidget toy sale. As the Mental Health Foundation suggests ‘kindness matters’ and many studies have identified the link between helping others and increased feelings of wellbeing.

Elsewhere, students have been creative in marking Mental Health Awareness Week. Students recreated the mental health awareness green ribbon using umbrellas. It was fitting that the rain started just as the photos was being taken and the sun shone through as we were finishing. A highlight of the week was 'bring your dog to school day' whereby staff members were allowed to bring their pets in. Students and staff enjoyed getting to know our visitors and it gave the Park even more of a family-feel than usual!

The week finished off with our Senior Choir singing in Oakview restaurant during lunch with a flashmob performance of. Lifting everyone’s spirits over lunch! The Music team also delivered a playlist which you can listen to here.

Director of Music, Rosemary Scales, commented, “For Mental Health Awareness Week I have put together some music linked (by date) to some of our fantastic buildings on the site. It is quite amazing to think that the original Grove House was opened at the same time Debussy was composing or the Main Hall when Pink Floyd released 'The Dark Side of the Moon'!

Beyond the marking of Mental Health Awareness Week, Leighton Park offers a range of long-term initiatives to promote student wellbeing. In addition to our small tutor groups and small class sizes, which facilitate a nurturing environment and promote personal development, we have over twenty staff trained as Mental Health First Aiders, student Peer Mentors, a Wellbeing Advisor, Resilience Coach and a number of counsellors. 

See the week's photosListen to the playlist

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