Supporting each other: pupils explore mental health

The sessions provided a safe and supportive space for open conversation, and our pupils showed maturity, respect, and excellent engagement throughout. Speakers highlighted that one in five people in the UK experience mental health difficulties, helping students understand how relevant this issue is to everyday life. Pupils contributed thoughtfully to discussions and activities, remaining focused for the full sessions.

A key takeaway from the day was the BANANAS framework:
Be Alert, Never Assume, Normalise Asking, and Support.
This simple but powerful approach teaches pupils how to look out for themselves and others, and shows how even small actions can make a real difference.

The workshops also addressed how life can sometimes feel overwhelming, and how unmanaged stress may occasionally lead to svicid@l thoughts. Pupils learnt that asking direct questions, including “Are you thinking about 5u1cide?”, can be a crucial step in helping someone access the right support.

The visit from The Martin Gallier Project was informative, empowering, and transformational, building pupils’ confidence, compassion, and awareness around mental health. Most importantly, it reinforced that support is always available and no one should face challenges alone.