The Wellbeing Hub October 2024

By Mr Mark Livesey

To give you some context and in case you missed it, I have a new job this year. My official title is Assistant Head: Student and Staff Wellbeing (Designated Safeguarding Lead). This means that I’ll be working on some projects to proactively improve the wellbeing provision on offer at St Columba’s. From what I have learned so far, we already have so much support available, but perhaps not everyone knows about it.

I’ll be writing on here regularly to try and create a bank of resources that can be accessed anytime by parents and students alike. Sometimes it’ll be promoting things we have done others, like today, will be talking about a service we have organised that we’ll be trialling this year.

I am delighted to announce our new partnership with an initiative that will further strengthen our commitment to student mental health and wellbeing This is Teen Tips’ Wellbeing Hub. Designed and run by psychologists in conjunction with education professionals it is THE go to website for parents, students and staff for matters of mental health and wellbeing. It is backed by Cambridge University alongside many others. Anyway, I’m not the salesman as we’ve already bought into it (see this video for the marketing). I’m here to try and persuade you to use it. It’s important to note that this platform is distinct from our in-school Wellbeing Hub, led by Mrs. Dubberley, which has a more learning support leaning.

Setting the Scene

With the increasing pressures young people face today—whether from academic demands, social media, or the complexities of modern life—this partnership is both timely and impactful.

You don’t need to look far on news websites to understand the scale of the problem and this is one of the ways that SCC is being proactive to manage this.

But the internet is vast, where to look for help? Can you trust it? Who wrote it and is it applicable for me, my child and their problem? All valid questions.

I believe that the website provides a comprehensive range of resources, with one of its key features being weekly live, expert-led sessions on mental health and personal development. These sessions cover important topics such as managing anxiety, building healthy relationships, and developing resilience.

All SCC parents will have access to this, while students from Prep 5 through to Upper Sixth will receive their individual login details. This ensures that both parents and students can fully engage with the resources available, fostering a collaborative approach to wellbeing support.

My personal favourites the online courses for parents and the resources for the students – both are incredible. But there is so much more on there.

Here’s an overview of what this exciting new resource will offer to our school community:

Tailored, Age-Specific Support for Students and Parents

One of the standout features of the Teen Tips Wellbeing Hub is its student-centred focus, offering tailored support for children of all ages. The platform provides a reliable source of age specific information where students can access expert advice, mental health resources, and self-help tools designed to meet their unique needs. Whether dealing with friendship issues, stress, or self-esteem challenges, students will find a wealth of engaging content.

A favourite part of this for me is the (monitored) Q&A covering a range of topics from anxiety to sleep and from puberty to diet. It is a safe space to explore topics they may feel uncomfortable about talking to us or you about.

Empowering Parents with Knowledge

We recognise that supporting student wellbeing is a shared responsibility. That’s why the Hub also offers a dedicated space for parents (and school staff), filled with expert resources aimed at helping you understand and support your child’s emotional and mental health.

Upcoming sessions and resources in October focus on Boundaries

• Blog: What are boundaries and why do they matter? by Dr Maryhan (Psychologist & Parenting Expert)
• Webinar: Helping your child develop healthy relationships, by Alicia Drummond, 16th October at 6:30pm BST
• Video: A tool to help students set boundaries with friends

These expert-led insights will empower parents to guide your children through the challenges of adolescence and mental health with confidence and understanding.

There are also two standout courses available for parents:

The Parenting Teens Course equips parents of adolescents with step-by-step tools to foster a happy home, reduce drama, and support their teen in developing independence and resilience. Meanwhile, the Parenting 2-12s Course provides practical strategies for managing everyday challenges—such as morning routines and sibling disputes—helping younger children thrive in a positive and structured environment. I have done the latter course as my own children fit into the category, would highly recommend.

A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing

What makes Teen Tips truly unique is its holistic approach. This fits with the ethos of the school nicely and as you’ll know a big part of what we are about. The platform not only provides support for mental health concerns but also encourages preventative measures by offering resources that cover emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.

By fostering a culture of openness and empathy, we aim to build resilience and self-awareness across our school community.

Confidential and Accessible Support

One of the key features of the Teen Tips website is its anonymity. I spoke about it before but students can seek advice and support without fear of judgement, breaking down barriers that often prevent young people from reaching out for help.

The platform is also accessible 24/7, allowing students, parents, and staff to find resources whenever they need them. There is also a comprehensive signposting section that allows students to access other, verified and checked, websites for specific issues.

Logging in

Now I’ve sold it to you, parents can set up your own account using the following link. Any issues please let either me or Matt Eaton (Head of IT Services) know.

Students will receive their details via tutors later on this week.

Thank you for reading

At SCC, we are committed to fostering an environment where students can thrive academically, socially, spiritually and emotionally. Our partnership with Teen Tips represents a small step towards achieving this goal. By providing our community with access to this innovative and comprehensive wellbeing resource, we are not just addressing mental health concerns, we are proactively nurturing a culture of wellbeing that will benefit everyone.

We encourage all students and parents to take full advantage of this resource. Students in the senior school will be getting their login details this week and some activities that follow on from the mental health and wellbeing theme of the week we looked at last week.

Even if you don’t login yet, even if you don’t need this right now maybe bookmark the page just in case that at some point in the year you or your child do need it

Any feedback on the above article is greatly received, good or bad (I have thick skin). Please let me know