Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
At Bishop Perowne, we are committed to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. We believe it is vital that our students understand how to look after both their physical and mental health and develop a toolkit of coping strategies for when challenges arise.
Our Mental Health Strategy supports students, parents, and staff in recognising mental health issues and removing the stigma around discussing them. We want our students to feel safe, understood, and empowered to seek help—never isolated or ashamed.
Over 50% of mental illnesses begin before the age of 14, and 1 in 10 children and young people experience a mental health disorder. Schools are on the frontline in supporting students’ mental wellbeing, and our staff are well placed to identify and respond to early signs of concern.
We recognise and support the work of wider initiatives such as WEST (Wellbeing and Emotional Support Teams in Schools), which aim to increase access to mental health support across Worcestershire. This aligns with our commitment to fostering a whole-school approach to wellbeing.
At Bishop Perowne, we have a strong internal support structure that includes:
- A dedicated Mental Health Lead who oversees our whole-school approach to mental wellbeing. They coordinate support for students, ensure staff are trained in mental health awareness, and manage referrals to external serviceswhen further intervention is needed.
- A mental health nurse on site two days a week, offering confidential, professional support and guidance to students.
- Our “Well Aware” programme, which not only provides practical strategies and resources for maintaining good mental health but also plays a key role in our triage process—helping to identify the level of support each student may need and ensuring they are directed to the right intervention, whether that be pastoral care, counselling, or external services. Our Well Aware page can be found hereÂ
We also signpost a variety of online mental health support services for students who may prefer to seek help independently or outside of school hours:
- Kooth – A free, safe, and anonymous online counselling and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people.
- YoungMinds – Offers expert advice, resources, and a crisis text line for urgent support (Text YM to 85258).
- Childline – Available 24/7 via phone, 1-2-1 chat, or message boards. Call 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk.
- The Mix – Support for under-25s on mental health, relationships, and more. Live chat and helpline available at themix.org.uk.
- Mind – Offers guidance and tools for young people to manage their mental health at mind.org.uk.
By embedding mental health into every aspect of school life and offering a clear, compassionate, and structured support system, we aim to ensure that every student at Bishop Perowne feels supported, resilient, and ready to thrive.
