At Holy Family we aim to provide an emotionally healthy whole school environment.
We will share Information that it empowers young people to find the best ways of supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
World Mental Health Day (October 2024)
Wear it Loud, Wear it Proud!
On Thursday, 10th October, we recognized World Mental Health Day. Mental health challenges affect us all at times, and coping can be difficult when things get tough. No young person should feel alone in their struggles, and together, we can make a difference.
In October, our school community—students and staff alike—demonstrated tremendous support by wearing yellow and contributing what they could. Through various fundraising activities such as cake sales, a Mario Kart competition, and visits from therapy dog and a mobile zoo, we raised funds for Young Minds. These donations will go towards creating vital mental health resources, advocating for local support hubs, and running their helpline.
As always, our students went above and beyond, and we couldn’t be more proud of their commitment to such an important cause.
On the final day of term, all students participated in the Student Leadership Festival, organized by Miss Murphy, Miss Sims, Mrs. Mitchell, and our Student Leadership Team. This year, we proudly chose to spotlight the incredible work of Papyrus, a UK-based charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide (under 35).
We were honored to welcome Mike Palmer, one of the "3 Dads Walking," along with the Papyrus Northwest Team. They engaged with our students, distributing helpline wristbands and other materials, while facilitating meaningful conversations that raised critical awareness about suicide prevention.
Our students' dedication and hard work culminated in raising an impressive £2,500 for Papyrus' Hopeline247 Helpline, a significant achievement following an extensive initiative with our Year 10 students. This donation will help fund 250 potentially life-saving calls to Hopeline247, a helpline staffed by experienced professionals who provide support and safety plans 24/7.
Below is a message from Mike Palmer, one of the 3 Dads Walking, which truly highlights the impact of our efforts:
"It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the assemblies and the festival. Your young people are a credit to Holy Family, and the fact that they now have an awareness of Papyrus and Hopeline247 is fantastic. You are right, they do understand, and by giving them this knowledge, we are investing in their future. £2,500 is an incredible achievement, and everyone involved should be extremely proud. To put this into perspective, this could fund 250 potentially life-saving calls to Hopeline247. Thank you so much." – Mike Palmer, 3 Dads Walking and advocate for suicide awareness in schools.
Hopeline247 is available 24/7, staffed not by volunteers but by trained professionals who provide compassionate support, create safety plans, and work to keep people safe. Each call costs £10, and the funds raised by our students will go a long way in supporting this vital service. A formal cheque presentation will take place later in the term—further details to follow.
Our school was one of six in Merseyside that became the first to trial new lessons on suicide prevention. The campaign to teach young people about the dangers has been led by the three bereaved fathers known as 3 Dads Walking. The 2 year trial, taking place in 6 schools in Liverpool, is the first of its kind in the UK. The trial is being run by Liverpool John Moores University and is based on a programme called MAPSS already being used in Australia. Year 10 students were taught how to spot the signs of suicide and how to get help, they are also screened and those identified as high risk are offered an 8 week course of support. The Government are yet to decide whether to add suicide prevention to the curriculum, but the findings of this 2-year trial could help inform that decision.
"[Students at Holy Family] were all brilliant. Thank you again so much for letting us come and see the lesson being delivered. I was so impressed with your students." Mel Barham, ITV.
"I, personally have to say what a privilege it was to deliver the sessions to such lovely young people. They were so engaged in the lessons, and had such insight, showing a real commitment to this vitally important topic, acting as a true ambassador for the programme before, during and after filming. You must be incredibly proud of them, as are we." Joanna Johnson, Grassroots Prevention.
Link to ITV news story
Children's Mental Health Week took place from 5th to 11th February 2024, with the theme of My Voice Matters. It was set up by children's mental health charity Place2Be and shines a spotlight on the importance of children and young people's mental health.
See news article Children's Mental Health Week activities at Holy Family.
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More details on Young Minds charity is available here:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/support-us/fundraising/helloyellow/
On the theme of yellow, Norwich City released a powerful mental health video yesterday. Watch until the end.
A big thank you to Mrs Skillen for organising the day as well as everyone who helped run the day, volunteered their support and took part in the activities. You will make a difference.
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day always observed on 10 September every year, to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.
