Staff from Godalming College,
including the Principal, Emma Young, Assistant Principal, Carol Horlock, Senior
Tutor, Jenny Hunter Phillips, and two inspirational
students took part in a Zoom discussion with Jeremy Hunt to mark World Mental Health Day.
Also at the meeting were Dr Clare Fuller, a GP and Senior
Responsible Officer for Surrey Heartlands, and Professor Tim
Kendall, NHS England National Clinical Director for Mental Health. The
students, one who is currently studying at Godalming College and one who,
having left last year, is studying at Exeter University, bravely described to the
group their experiences of the services offered by GPS and CAMHS (Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Service) and the support that they have received
from the College.
The College Mental Health
Action Plan, drawn up by Jenny Hunter Phillips who leads on mental health
welfare in the College, includes training peer leaders in mental health, promoting
issues through the tutorial programme and a poster campaign through which a
student has produced a graphical display of support for each classroom.
Jenny also discussed the support on offer to all students at the
College and other initiatives including a 'wellbeing at home' page provided
to all students during lockdown earlier in the year plus the involvement of the
College counsellors and the Students' Union who had joined
the five-step Hello
Yellow challenge as part of the Nationwide campaign in
October.
Jenny says 'we are currently
working towards a Wellbeing Week in February in which the
whole week will be dedicated to providing strategies for
keeping well and promoting wellbeing. We, of course, continue to
explore all available sources of information surrounding this important issue
and ensure that the latest practice is shared with staff.'
Dr Fuller described the
initiative as 'the brilliant work that's going on in Godalming [College] bringing
together help and education and appropriate care".
Jeremy Hunt described it as 'Outstanding'. " What
they are doing at Godalming College is fantastic. It sounds absolutely
brilliant."
Photo of Jeremy Hunt taken by Godalming Nub News.
.