Schools Awards
Schools Awards
Mentally Healthy Schools Award
The Mentally Healthy Schools Award recognises and celebrates schools that demonstrate a continued commitment to promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing across their whole school community.
Through a structured framework, schools can evidence their achievements, identify areas for development, and showcase the work they are doing to support pupils, staff, and families.
The award supports schools to:
- Strengthen their Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing.
- Celebrate existing good practice and achievements.
- Identify opportunities for future development.
- Demonstrate their commitment to creating a positive and inclusive environment.
- Gain recognition for their work in supporting the wellbeing of pupils, staff, and the wider school community.
- Whether you are just beginning your wellbeing journey or looking to build on existing strengths, the award provides a valuable opportunity to reflect, develop, and celebrate success.
Ready to get started?
Explore the award criteria and begin your school's journey towards becoming a recognised Mentally Healthy School.
Bronze award
Evidence may include:
- Awareness of MHST's and Mental Health support within schools through Bulletins, Assemblies and Posters.
- A specific person with mental health training should be available for young people to talk to.
- Social space and activities such as clubs or after school activities.
- Mental health days at least once a year.
- Undertake an audit that identifies themes and subsequent action that will help pupils to achieve and maintain good health and wellbeing.
- Teachers to be aware of MHST's and sign post them to students when required.
- Named Mental Health lead for the School
- Attendance at consultation/Link meetings with MHST Staff
- Young people should understand what can and cannot be kept confidential by the school.
Silver award
Evidence may include:
- MHST colleagues to go into classrooms to introduce themselves and their role within schools.
- Emotional/Mental Health policies and procedures
- Evidence of young people and parent participation in promoting emotional health and wellbeing in the school environment
- Therapeutic space for MHST Interventions.
- More use of the facilities that they already have e.g., having lessons outside in good weather, using and fields or sport areas during breaks and lunches.
- Support for young people that are struggling academically.
- Check in's with students.
- The signs and symptoms of poor mental health should be explained to both students and teachers.
Gold award
Evidence may include:
- Teachers should have mental health training to help spot the signs of mental distress and help signpost young people who need it.
- Mental Health events involving parents and governors to promote support for positive mental health awareness amongst young people within the school
- Practical daily activities to promote good mental health
- Have open dialogue between the school and the pupils. Allowing concerns and suggestions to be raised in a safe and controlled environment.
- Clearly communicated measures to support staff wellbeing
- Staff wellbeing policy
Please submit evidence to CAMHS MHST Admin - CAMHSMHSTTrailblazer1@nottshc.nhs.uk
Mentally Healthy Schools Application Form
Check the mental health of your school by completing this survey which is designed to take no longer than 10 - 15 minutes.
Mentally Healthy Schools Application Form March 2024
Please send in your completed application form and collated evidence back to the MHST admin team, this will then be reviewed by the panel: CAMHSMHSTTrailblazer1@nottshc.nhs.uk
Alternatively collate this evidence and pass on to your link worker to send to the panel for review.
Guidance can be found from our Mentally Healthy Schools Award proposal here.
Once the self-assessment checklist has been completed by the Senior Mental Health Lead, please provide evidence to support the level of achievement. Evidence can include reflective accounts, signed and dated witness statements from parents or professionals, visual evidence (screen shots / posters / data.
We would recommend, where possible and appropriate, to provide numerous pieces of evidence to support the self-assessment.
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