Assistant headteacher at Thornhill Academy, Cherry Crooks, said: “The students enjoyed the workshop and learnt a lot from the session and we would like to thank Mind of the Student for coming to our academy.

Students at Thornhill, Heworth Grange and Washington academies, part of Consilium Academies, attended a workshop at their school about how to manage stress and anxiety.

 Pupils at the three schools were visited by a charity called Mind of the Student which aims to give young people the confidence to speak about their mental health. 

One Year 10 student at Thornhill Academy said: “I really enjoyed the topic because it helped us understand how to face types of anxieties and that I shouldn't keep things to myself.” Another added: “I think this has been really helpful for the future, because we all have times where things are new, like work experience, and we might feel down.”

  

The workshops were scheduled in the same week as World Mental Health Day, which is an international day to promote mental health education and awareness and to help stamp out social stigma surrounding poor mental health.  Mind of the Student says its work helps to ensure that no student in school goes without essential training on mental health which equips them with the knowledge, confidence and skills to recognise and address their own mental health needs.

  One Thornhill pupil said : “I enjoyed the session and I learned that I shouldn't let anyone play with my feelings. It has been a boost to my confidence and I can learn to face my fears.” Another said: “I enjoyed the session because I learned that if I am ever struggling with my mental health I can talk to someone and take some alone time for myself.”

The students at all three Consilium academies enjoyed the workshop, where the charity put on a range of demonstrations, including using the visual analogy of a bucket filling up and overflowing with water to demonstrate how pressures can build up over time.

    

“At Thornhill Academy, we strive to recognise and develop the whole child - physically, socially and intellectually - so that they can lead successful and fulfilled lives - and we hope this workshop will help students to maintain a positive mental outlook as they mature into young adults.” Assistant headteacher at Thornhill Academy, Cherry Crooks.