Pupils from Comber’s Nendrum College have taken part in a series of workshops designed to provide fun engaging techniques to support their emotional wellbeing in and out of the classroom, as part of Children’s Mental Health Week.
The workshops were delivered through the Emotional Wellbeing Team in Schools (EWTS), a Regional programme led by Health and Social Care staff across all five Trust areas. Through interactive sessions and classroom-based discussions, pupils explored how to talk openly about their feelings and develop a stronger sense of belonging within their school community.
In today’s social media driven world, it is increasingly important that schools create supportive environments where pupils feel heard, seen and understood.
During the session at Nendrum College, Year Eight pupils took part in relaxed discussions, focussing on why a sense of belonging is so important for mental health, as well as how small acts of kindness towards one another can make such a difference.
Pupil, Sophie Rowntree, shared how much she enjoyed the session. Sophie said, “I really liked it and learning how important our mental health is. Coming from Primary Seven to Year Eight is fine, it is not scary and the teachers are so nice. I found the morning really good and really helpful.”
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Practitioner Louise Begley has been delivering the programme across schools in the South Eastern Trust and Belfast Trust areas. “We have been delivering workshops and assembly’s this week in Nendrum College as part of Children’s Mental Health Week.
“It is really important, from Year Eight onwards, to build on the preventive education side of things by helping children understand what mental health is, how they can look after their own emotional wellbeing and what support is available to them and how they can access it.
“Our service is based on the ‘Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework’ published in 2021, which highlighted some of the emotional difficulties some children can experience in Northern Ireland. It is important for our young people to be learning about their mental health and what they can do to support their wellbeing.”