Worcester Sixth Form College supports Mental Health Awareness Week

Worcester Sixth Form College staff and students completed a successful week of events to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.  Members of the College’s Mental Health Peer Awareness group made and handed out hundreds of green ribbons for students to wear. They also painted stones with positive messages to put in their recreational area and put together a ‘self-care’ box with things to alleviate stress and promote calm and relaxation.

Worcester Healthy Minds and the charity ‘Pets As Therapy’ brought their dogs into College to support the students as the first week of exams got under way.  Students were able to access study support advice from The Hive who also spent a day in College.

Julie Ferman, Head of Year, who co-ordinated the activities said: “At Worcester Sixth Form College we are committed to supporting students who struggle with their mental health and promoting ways to promote positive wellbeing. It is important that we talk about mental health and break down the stigma surrounding it. Support at College can take the form of someone to talk to, whether that is a personal tutor, a member of the peer awareness group, in-house counselling, online resources and apps and a weekly art therapy group.  All our tutors have received mental health first aid training and liaise closely with the academic staff.”