Mental Health

Wellbeing Wednesday: Empathy

/ / Parent/Carer Support, Wellbeing

Tips for wellness from our Mental Health In Schools Team

“Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with their heart, seeing with their eyes.” Daniel H Pink

Empathy

Empathy means feeling with someone, not just feeling sorry for them. It is one of the best ways to
be a kind friend and a good person. Empathy is not just noticing that someone is happy, sad, or
hurt—you’re trying to understand their feelings from their point of view and responding with
kindness.

Examples of when you could be empathetic:

Our tips for empathy:

  1. Pay attention to how people look and sound – are they happy, sad, or upset? Look for clues in
    their body language to find out how they might be feeling.
  2. Read a book or watch a TV show – pick a character in the book or show and imagine how that
    character might feel. Do you think all the characters feel the same? Put yourself in their
    shoes! Check out EmpathyLab’s #ReadForEmpathy book collection for ideas of what to read to build empathy.
  3. Empathy drawing – if you like to get creative, you could try drawing a picture of how
    someone else might feel in a certain situation (e.g., “a child who has lost their favourite toy”, “a
    child who is starting a new school”).
  4. Be kind with actions – even little things help – like sharing, listening, or giving a hug.
  5. Include everyone – invite others to play, join in, or sit with you. Notice if someone is standing
    alone, sitting on a bench, or watching others play.
  6. Kindness cards – consider making cards or notes for family, friends or classmates who might
    need a boost!

Please contact [email protected] for information and advice about mental health and well-being for your child and your family.

Wellbeing Wednesday: Stress Awareness

/ / Parent/Carer Support, Wellbeing
Tips For Wellness from our Mental Health In Schools Team

Stress Awareness

Stress is what you feel when you’re worried, nervous, or under pressure. It’s your body’s way of
reacting to things that feel difficult, scary, or too much to handle. Everyone feels stressed sometimes!
Stress can come from lots of things, such as:

  • School – too much homework, exams, or feeling like you have to do really well.
  • Friends – disagreements/ arguments, bullying, or feeling left out.
  • Family – disagreements/ arguments, moving house, or changes like a new baby in the family.
  • Big Changes – starting a new school, growing up, or losing someone you care about.

Some stress can be good, but too much can cause us to feel anxious or depressed, which might
affect our sleeping, eating habits and general wellbeing. If stress is going on for a long time, we may
also experience ‘burnout’, which is when our body is exhausted and has not had a chance to rest.
There are things we can do to help our body recharge and reduce stress:

Our tips for managing stress:

  • Talk to someone you trust. This helps you not to feel alone, because someone is there to listen
    to you and to care. Remember – it’s okay to ask for help!
  • Stress bucket activity – follow the QR code/link to complete your own stress bucket. This may
    help you to see what is contributing to your stress, as well as what helps you to feel calmer.
  • Moving your body can help to release stress and make you feel good. Why not try dancing to
    your favourite song or going for a walk with friends or family?
  • Get creative – Art has been found to help people feel present in the moment and reduce the
    feeling of stress and worry. Follow the QR code/link for more information!
  • Create a calm corner – It is important to have somewhere that you feel safe, and you could go
    there when you feel like you need a break. You could fill the corner with soft things like pillows
    and blankets, and is the perfect place to read, draw, or even listen to calming music!

Please contact [email protected] for information and advice about mental health and well-being for your child and your family.

Wellbeing Wednesday: Be Active

/ / Parent/Carer Support, Wellbeing

Tips For Wellness from our Mental Health In Schools Team

Be Active

Moving our body every day can boost self-esteem, improve quality of sleep, contribute to better
social skills and reduce feelings of anxiety. When we feel anxious, our bodies can experience the
‘fight, flight, freeze’ response. Our hearts beat faster, we sweat more, and our muscles tense;
physical activity can help release these feelings!

Our brain also releases chemicals when we exercise, called endorphins, that make us feel good.
Even just 10 minutes of fast walking can contribute to mental alertness, increased energy and
positive mood.

Being active may be new to you, or you may already exercise regularly. Try to find an activity that
you want to do, and you find enjoyable. It’s okay if you aren’t sure what this is yet, have a go at
experimenting and why not start by checking out our ideas for being active below?

Our tips for being active:

  1. Add extra movement to your regular routine – Can you change the way you travel to school?
    Could you walk or cycle to your friend’s house, instead of travelling by car? If you need to use
    the car, think about parking further away to get some extra steps in!
  2. Try a new sport or activity – This is a great way to improve your sporting ability, but also an
    opportunity to make new friends and feel part of a team.
  3. Dance to music – Whilst it can be a good idea to join a sports club if you enjoy this type of
    activity, we can still be active whilst listening to music and having fun! You could dance to your
    favourite playlist whilst you are tidying your bedroom or helping your parents/carers around the
    house…you might even forget you are doing chores too!
  4. Get outdoors and move your body in the fresh air. If the weather is cold or rainy, why not try
    Zumba, hula hooping, skipping, or yoga.

Please contact [email protected] for information and advice about mental health and well-being for your child and your family.

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