The school counsellor is only one part of how Kelso High School is supporting young people in a multi-agency way. The school counsellor supports young people directly and also teaching staff and health staff through supportive supervision. All referrals are discussed with both guidance and health staff and where necessary with a member of the senior management team.
A bid has been submitted to the Children’s Change Group for continued funding to June 2008, which would enable the project to be effectively evaluated.
In addition, emotional and mental health is also supported through a block of six 40-minute sessions around various topics of emotional and mental health which are delivered through the PSE curriculum to all S2 students. The topics covered include body image, bereavement and coping strategies.
Toolkit
The key partners who developed the Kelso High School Counselling Service have been involved in the development of a mental health toolkit for use with S2 in PSE. It was decided that it would be beneficial to increase awareness around mental health issues at the S2 stage. This age stage was chosen as appropriate with the onset of puberty and potentially being exposed to risk-taking behaviours.
It is an early intervention model with the topics being:
- emotional well-being
- body image
- bereavement
- coping strategies
- relationships
- feelings and behaviour.
On completion the toolkit is to be rolled out to all nine secondary schools in Scottish Borders.
The Kelso High School Health Promotion Committee now has emotional and mental health and well-being as a standing item on its meeting agenda alongside other items such as the School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG) and Scotland’s Health at Work (SHAW).
