A big well done to everyone involved in the global campaign of ’40 seconds of action’, it was a brilliant success that truly captured the initiative for World Mental Health Day.

On Thursday 10th October 19 was World Mental Health Day. It provided us with the opportunity to focus on the issues around mental health, well-being and happiness.  But it won’t be just for one day.  It will be the start of an on-going project through which we hope to provide some strategies for students, staff and the wider Highgate Wood School community to help us all handle the stresses and strains of daily life as well as those times of heightened risk and concern.

The awareness campaign of ’40 seconds of action’ circulated the entire school in the lead-up to and on World Mental Health day. Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life by committing suicide, students and staff at Highgate Wood School participated in the movement by discovering ways to change someones mood, day or life by taking action that takes just 40 seconds.

After recognising the possible actions that can be taken to help someone who is at risk, students and staff wrote down what they would do or say to that person and took a photo of themselves holding their slogan.

Photos taken to support World Mental Health Day were published around the school on the screens and is due to stay there till next week. We hope that our participation in the ’40 seconds of action’ raised enough awareness to tackle the issue even further and to potentially save lives of others.

Our Assistant Headteacher Ms Burniston also encouraged a movement of ‘Be Your Own Bestie’. We want all of our students to feel confident and happy in themselves and as a school we want to motivate them to lead in this direction.

Some of the many slogans created and shared by our staff and students

• Say “Good morning”
• Smile at someone
• Ask how someone is and actually be interested and listen to their answer
• Give someone a hug when they feel low
• Tell them of the positive things that can happen in life
• Take an interest, listen and empathise (but don’t force it)
• We would make them laugh
• Listen, advice, comfort

Below are some links to organisations that you may find helpful