Managing mental health away from school

Although we may not realise it, school plays a huge role in our mental health. Even if you don’t receive mental health support in school, the schedule and routine of school can help as well as the availability of teachers and peers to talk to about anything. One of the worst impacts of the pandemic was that the closure of schools meant that so many pupils were going without mental health support, and schools also play a massive role in detecting problems in students regarding mental health and their life at home. The Christmas holidays are coming up, which can be daunting for some, so here are a few tips to manage your mental health away from school.

1. Create a routine

As mentioned above, simply the fact that school enforces a routine helps because it creates stability and regularity in life and this is one of the biggest things that change. Many people notice their sleep and eating patterns changing due to this, and food and sleep can have a massive impact on mental health. The easiest way to combat this is to try and stick to eating and sleeping at the same times that you did when going to school, and this also means when you go back it won’t be much of a shift.

2. Occupy your mind

Boredom and a wandering mind can be difficult, especially if you are trying to keep your mind busy. School is great for this, as you are constantly learning, talking to friends or doing something. The best way to tackle this at home is simply to find things to do - maybe make a start on holiday homework that you were planning to leave to the last minute, or find a new hobby such as reading a new book. A busy mind, and more importantly, a mind that is doing a variety of activities means you are constantly entertained and helps distract you from stresses and worries.

3. See your friends

One of the things every adult I’ve spoken to says they miss about school is seeing their friends everyday. It can be a huge change, seeing your friends everyday to not very often at all for a few weeks, so make an effort to stay in contact with your friends. Social media is great for this, but also seeing people in real life makes a huge difference. Make an effort to go out, even if it's just for walks (which may not be the most fun in this weather) and have fun with them. The best part about holidays is that the whole day is free for you to enjoy and have fun, so make sure you make the most of it!

4. Know where you can get help

Finally, without school it means that you may find yourself without the same support network that you had, so make sure you know where you can get help. If it is a mental health emergency, you can call the NHS mental health emergency hotline or 999 if it is a threat to someone's health. Other helplines are linked below. Remember, getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

NHS mental health emergency hotline: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline

Samaritans: free, 365 days a year, call 116 123

National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 0800 689 4141

Childline: 0800 1111

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): 0800 58 58 58