Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Fairfield High School for Girls, the mental health and wellbeing of our students is a top priority. We believe in providing a supportive environment where every student can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.

We understand the challenges that young people face today and strive to support them through a wide range of resources and initiatives designed to promote positive mental health.

HOW WE SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH

We provide a range of services and support options for students, including:

  • Our pupils all have a Form Tutor who is monitoring and supporting their year group progress, engagement and overall barriers in any area. Form Tutors will usually be the first point of contact for pupils and parents should they wish to report any mental health concerns
  • Our pupils also have an Assistant Head of Year and a Head of Year who can help families understand what level of support may be most useful. We can then signpost or refer to external agencies or we can offer intervention in school.
  • Assistant Heads of Year in particular will offer support to our students with building self-esteem, managing strong feelings, exam stress and other support that strengthens resilience of our students.
  • Our Student Support Faculty, led by Mrs Stewart (SENDCO), also provides a key role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils with SEND
  • Dr Beckett is the school Mental Health Lead and oversees the school’s mental health provision.
  • The school works closely with external agencies to support pupils’ mental health. We contract in counsellors from Talk, Listen, Change to work with pupils in need of talk-based counselling services
  • The school also works closely with Tameside’s Mental Health Support Team, and a Mental Health Practitioner is based in school one day a week to support our provision and to work with children with emerging mental health needs.

Local Support Services

Local Area Support Services

For those who require support from external agencies the following support is available:
  • The Hive Katherine St. Ashton under Lyne 0161 330 9223 – Drop in 4-8pm every Wed.
    com – a free, safe and anonymous online support and counselling service for young people aged 11-18, to support mental wellbeing 12-10pm weekdays and 6pm-10pm weekends.
  • Your GP
  • Off the Record Young Peoples Counselling, Clarendon Square, Hyde – Drop In Wednesday 3-6pm (just drop in for a chat) or phone 0161 355 3553 (self-referral).
  • 42nd Street, Manchester – 0161 228 1888 (can self-refer) 42nd Street is a Greater Manchester charity that offers free and confidential support and advice for young people's emotional health and wellbeing.
  • Young Minds - Young Minds Parents Helpline is for parents, guardians and carers. If you need advice about your child’s mental health you can contact the Parents Helpline directly on 0808 802 5544 between 9:30am-4pm, Monday to Friday
  • YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free 24 hour crisis support. If you are a young person experiencing a mental health crisis text YM to 85258 for free support.  Texts are free from most phone networks
  • Childline – ChildLine provides a confidential telephone counselling service for any child under 19. Call their 24 hour helpline 0800 1111, sign up for a ChildLine account childline.org/registration/ or have a one-to-one chat with an online counsellor childline.org.uk/get-support/1-2-1-counsellor-chat
  • BEAT - BEAT Youthline offers online chat and telephone support to young people struggling with an eating disorder. Their helpline number is 0808 801 0711, open from 9am to 8pm during the week and 4pm to 8pm on weekends and bank holidays.
  • Anthony Seddon Fund, 12 George Street, Ashton under Lyne – 0161 376 4439 or Thursday 4-7pm drop-in.
  • MIND - is a mental health charity with a useful website filled with ideas for support, including mindfulness.
  • NSPCC - The NSPCC also provides a range of advice and support for parents and carers.

If you are experiencing thoughts of taking your own life, try and confide in a friend or family member or seek help from any of the below crisis services. Most are Freephone.

  • In an emergency the hospital is the first place you should go to. Present yourself at the A and E Dept anytime or contact Tameside Hospital on 0161 922 6000 for telephone advice and support.
  • Samaritans –Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • Papyrus - HOPELINEUK is for young people experiencing suicidal thoughts. Call 0800 068 4141 9am to midnight every day of the year
  • Text Shout to 85258 for the suicide prevention text service.

We recognise the impact that having a child with mental health concern can place on the whole family.  Members of our Pastoral Faculty can help parents or carers to make referrals to external services, including the local Early Help offer.

If you are a parent of a child with mental health concerns, more advice and support can be found via this link to the NHS advice page. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/