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For this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week (5-9 February), Wellington’s Student Mental Health Ambassadors are celebrating the theme of ‘My Voice Matters’ by organising multiple house karaoke events. Jack H and Jemma R, who are both ambassadors and Chairs for the programme, talked to us about their roles and why this year’s theme resonates so much with them.
Supported by Dr Jenny Griggs, Head of Student Emotional Health and Wellbeing at Wellington College, there are two Lower Sixth Student Mental Health Ambassadors per house who receive nine hours of interactive training including advice on confidentiality and safeguarding as well as teaching on mental health difficulties and how to foster positive mental health. The ambassadors meet once per half term to share their different approaches, discuss what’s worked well and how to replicate certain initiatives across houses.
Jemma believes that one of the most important traits of a Student Mental Health Ambassador is to be approachable. She says: “Trust is a prerequisite. Many of the relationships I have with other pupils in my house have been nurtured over several years. This makes my role feel natural and informal. I can knock on someone’s door if they look stressed and offer a listening ear or a cup of tea. Or if someone looks down, I might do something as simple as giving them a sincere compliment. Little things go a long way”.
A key aspect of the Student Mental Health Ambassadors role is to create fun activities within houses to boost wellbeing. In Stanley House, Jack Hartley organises regular movie nights, often on a Friday after a busy week. He says: “Movie nights are a chance to relax together and boost morale, particularly if you’re overloaded with schoolwork. We find that pupils often go to bed earlier after a movie evening which also helps them to catch up on rest”. Other house initiatives have included a ‘getting to know you’ session that Picton House ran for third formers with a classic Colin the Caterpillar cake taking centre stage. Apsley House are currently planning a pampering spa evening and Hopetoun House have run ‘Early Night Wednesdays’ where students have a digital detox and spend time doing activities like mindful colouring.
For Children’s Mental Health Week, the karaoke sessions run by the ambassadors will take place simultaneously in each school house on Tuesday 6 February. Jack and Jemma see the event as a fun acknowledgement of an important theme – that everyone’s voice and opinion is equally important and deserves to be heard, whether you’re a new Third Former or an experienced Sixth Former. During a week where mock exams kick off and the much-anticipated production of Les Misérables takes to the stage in the GWA, karaoke is a brilliant way to let off steam.
Jack says: “We wanted to organise something fun, empowering and unpressured. Pupils can just turn up for half an hour if they want, have a laugh and show off their vocal talents. Or lack of vocal talents…we’re definitely applauding enthusiasm, not skill”
When Jemma and Jack reflect on mental health among young people, Jemma points out that although it might feel like a lot of children are experiencing poor mental health, there have always been mental health issues but we are much more open to discussing them today which is a positive. She says: “There are lots of contributing factors like the impact of covid, the prevalence of social media, eco-anxiety and prejudices that affect children’s mental health. The best thing that we can do as ambassadors is to raise awareness about the support and help available to pupils at Wellington. We can also promote the importance of smaller things like sleep hygiene, exercise and healthy phone use”
Jack adds “One of the most valuable things about the ambassadors programme is that it creates a sense of community. I know that one house has created ‘interhouse bubbles’ where smaller groups from across the year groups spend time together, for example watching Barbie! It means younger pupils can get advice about school life from the older pupils but most importantly it’s a chance to share some light relief together. Fun, laughter and belonging are huge mental health boosts”
Jemma concludes by saying: “At Wellington we are incredibly lucky to have access to a Wellbeing programme which is part of the curriculum as well as school counsellors and dedicated staff members like Dr Jenny Griggs. As ambassadors we want to continue to destigmatise mental health and ensure every pupil knows where to turn if they are experiencing challenges, whether that’s a bad day, exam stress or something deeply personal and challenging. Every voice matters and no issue is too big or small.”
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