NORTH WALSHAM STUDENTS SPEND DAY EXPLORING THEIR OWN WELLBEING

Teenagers at a North Walsham school spent a whole day during Mental Health Awareness Week focussing on wellbeing, with a range of outside experts visiting the school to lead sessions on physical, mental and sexual health.

The Year 9 Healthy Living and Wellbeing Day was run as part of North Walsham High School’s Personal, Social and Health Education programme, which is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthily, safely, productively and responsibly.

The students attended four sessions during the day:

• Chelsea Maccoll from the Community Sports Foundation led a session on exercise and healthy eating
• Donna Loose, a nurse at North Walsham surgery talked to students about sexual health
• Police Community Support Officer James Harding explored the topic of cyber bullying
• NWHS assistant head Karen King and health and social care teacher Angela Warnes led a discussion about LGBT issues

NWHS head teacher Neil Powell commented, “Year 9 students have reached that age when all sorts of wellbeing-related issues start to come into play, and so we created this special day to help them focus on all sorts of aspects of wellbeing.

“Holding the day during Mental Health Awareness Week seemed appropriate, because although not all the sessions related directly to mental health issues, we know that the overall wellbeing of young people can have a big impact on their mental health as well.

“Teenagers don’t always find it easy to talk about these kind of issues, but it’s important for them to realise that looking after themselves and maintaining their own physical, mental and sexual health is their own responsibility.”