Health and Wellbeing

At My Online Schooling, we take great care to support our pupils in both their education and health and wellbeing. Our Health and Wellbeing Manager, Ella Hall plays a key part in this. Ella looks after our pupils’ mental health and well-being – making sure they have the support to achieve their full potential. Working closely with parents and teachers, Ella helps them tackle any issues they’re having, while also providing assessment and counselling for pupils who need additional support.

Ella explains below why it’s important to look after our pupils health and wellbeing, and the support we can provide.

Think about the last time you had a cold, or had an asthma flare up. Or perhaps when you twisted your ankle, or scratched your knees falling over. What did you do? Did you drink hot lemon with honey to soothe your throat? Did you put a plaster or bandage on your injury? Maybe you stayed on the couch, wrapped in a duvet, and binge watched Netflix.

These are all examples of our physical health going through tough times. Similar to this, we also experience better and worse periods of mental health through our lifetimes. However, whereas we are often taught how and encouraged to take care of our physical health, taking care of our mental health is sometimes not given the same importance.

Looking after our mental health is just as important as looking after our physical health. As anxiety and other mental health conditions are on the rise amongst young people, it is becoming increasingly important to recognise the signs of mental health problems in order to address them early on. Some key signs to look out for are;

• A change in personality
• Becoming withdrawn or refusing to talk
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Repeated physical symptoms (eg. headaches, stomach pain etc)
• Change in appetite
• Refusal to attend school
• Becoming unnaturally attached to parents/carers
• Inability to regulate emotions

If you notice your child or a loved one is showing any of these signs, there are actions you can take to help them;

• Ask them if they would like to talk to you or another trusted person
• Ask them to try and explain how they are feeling, without placing blame or guilt
• Be supportive and explain they will not always feel this way
• Make an appointment with your GP to talk through options
• Counselling/CBT can be effective in some cases
• Sometimes medication may be prescribed

Starting my career as a teacher, I saw first-hand how mental health issues in young people can have a devastating impact on their lives, and the lives of their families. This motivated me to return to university, studying for an MSc degree in Psychology, followed by an MSc degree in Forensic Psychology. Throughout this time studying, I also undertook training in dyslexia and autism, and trained as a crisis counsellor for a mental health charity.

Outside of work and study, I love taking my dog, Luna, on long hill walks followed by lunch in a cosy country pub. I also enjoy travelling, finding hidden beaches, and practicing yoga in beautiful places!

At My Online Schooling we understand that the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils has a direct impact on their ability to reach their educational potential. Our Health and Wellbeing Manager Ella runs a free Wellbeing Club for pupils to attend.

Wellbeing club provides pupils with a safe, supportive and positive space to discuss a variety of topics relating to their Health, happiness and wellbeing. Pupils are encouraged to share their ideas and thoughts, and Ella offers guidance on coping with a number of challenges, including stress, anxiety and additional needs.

The Wellbeing Club is available to enrolled pupils. Sign up below.

We offer a Health and Wellbeing support package for those pupils who require further individualised support. For more information and to register for this support package, please follow the link below.

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering one-to-one online counselling sessions with experienced Edinburgh-based counsellor, Findlay Headden. Click the button below to find out more.

If your child is a pupil at the school, and you would like to discuss how we can support them in their health and wellbeing, then please get in touch by emailing admin@myonlineschooling.com.

If you are looking for more information about My Online Schooling, then please enquire below.