We were delighted to host the Up Front Theatre company on Tuesday 3rd November to support student understanding of Mental Health and age appropriate discusison around effective outlets for expressing emotions for students. 

Focusing on Tash, Callum and Sophie, the play looked at the pressures on teenagers and how they could avoid falling into harmful ways of managing changes. 

Tash starts year 9 as a ‘normal’ girl, but as the year progresses, she begins to struggle with low selfesteem. Callum began year 9 as a top student and a promising footballer. After a nasty accident leaves him unable to play, Callum begins to feel anger, frustration and sadness. Rather than talk to anyone about this, Callum bottles up his feelings. He hides behind anger and an ‘I don’t care’ attitude. These bottled feelings build up and at the end of the play, after failing his mock exams, Callum has a mental health crisis. The final part of this friendship group is Sophie. Having fallen out with Tash, her story arc shows her coming to terms with new friendships, battlng temptations with this new group in an attempt to fit in. 

The show incorporated key aspects that teenagers deal with presently and the challenges that they face. Information about the content can be found on this link https://www.upfronttheatrecompany.co.uk/in-harms-way-ks3-5

Students were given key signposting for support both within and outside of school. In addition to this they were given coping strategies including identifying what support might help them. One of these they were encouraged to try was to discuss with home or others if they wanted to be heard, held or helped. Many of the students liked this approach. The signposting information included ChildLine 0800 11 11 and additional all that is in their student planner to refer to if needed. 

Why is it so important to discuss mental health & self-harm with young people?

We all have mental health in the same way we have physical health, but sometimes it is not an easy subject to talk about with young people. And with 1 in 4 people in the UK suffering from a mental health condition in their lifetime, it is something we must talk about.

Statistics show than 1 in 4 adults will suffer from a mental health condition in their lifetime, 1 in 10 young people; and 50% of mental health conditions are established by 14 years old.

A YouGov/MQ and Forster survey in 2016 showed that 51% of young people would be embarrassed to talk about mental health.

Young Minds, PAPYRUS, Childline & NSPCC have all said 'more open and frank conversations should be encouraged with children.

According to The Children's Society's 'Good Childhood Report' - rates of self-harm among children are "worryingly high" with 16% (of more than 11,000 14-year-olds surveyed in the Millenium Cohort Study) reporting that they had self-harmed in the last year.

In Harm's Way invites students not only to observe and invest in the characters' stories, but to advise - this pro-active approach will encourage them to apply this advice in their own lives.

Ms Rooke, Deputy Headteacher said  'I just want to add how proud we were of all of our students, their engagement and focus. The students really did have respect, show kindness and give 100%. This was reiterated by the team of performers who stated that they had visited 500 schools and our students stood out to them for their behaviour and support that they identified' 

As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s well-being or school work please do reach out to us. Your child’s form tutor, her Director of Learning / Pastoral support, Student support officer or any member of SLT as well as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Images in the gallery