Mental Health & Wellbeing
Selby High School is committed to developing a whole school positive mental health and wellbeing ethos that raises awareness, promotes understanding and reduces stigma. Our aim is to promote positive mental health for every member of our school community by ensuring that the wellbeing of our students and staff is at the heart of all that we do.
This section of the website supports the work of the school in:
- Promoting mental health as part of school life;
- Improving the emotional wellbeing of our staff and students;
- Ensuring mental health problems are identified early and appropriate support provided;
- Offering timely interventions that match the needs of our students and staff;
- Engaging the whole-school community in the importance of mental health awareness;
- Capturing the views of parents, carers and guardians, students and staff on mental health issues.
We aim to help our students to discuss their feelings, build their self-confidence and emotional resilience and therefore their capacity to learn. Teaching students the signs of poor mental health and self-help techniques to support good mental health is key as well as providing support at an early stage in school.
Accessing Help in School
Selby High School is a caring school. If you have any worries or concerns, and would like to speak to somebody in school, there are plenty of people who you can talk to:
PD Tutor - Your PD Tutor will see you on most days during PD time. Just mention to your PD Tutor that you need a bit of help and they will point you in the right direction.
Class teachers - All of your subject teachers have received training in social and emotional health.
Year Leader - Year Leaders will always be willing to listen to any worries you may have, operating an ‘open door’ policy.
Mrs Moughan, Student Support Mentor - For those students needing a bit of extra support.
Mrs Elgie, Student Wellbeing Practitioner - For students needing extra support with their social, emotional or mental health. A drop-in service is available before school, after school and at break times.
Wellbeing in Mind Team - A team of NHS professionals working in school to offer support to students experiencing common emotional wellbeing difficulties (referral from Year Leader).
Student Wellbeing Ambassadors - A team of students who are passionate about promoting wellbeing for students in school and are the driving force behind wellbeing calendar days. Our Student Wellbeing Ambassadors are good listeners. They will help you find support if you need it.
Relaxation club - A drop-in club available at lunchtimes, run by our Student Wellbeing Practitioner and Student Wellbeing Ambassadors. Come along to join in relaxing activities & have a chat!
Mrs Elgie, Student Wellbeing Practitioner
Email: studentwellbeingsupport@selbyhigh.co.uk
Mental Health & Wellbeing: Key Staff in School
Miss G. Smith - Senior Mental Health Lead
Miss S. Langridge - Designated Safeguard Lead
Mr G. Gibson - Designated Governor for Mental Health
Mrs E. Elgie - Student Wellbeing Practitioner
Miss A. Ridley - Thrive Practitioner
Mrs S. Wardell - Alternative Provision Lead
Mrs E. Lockhart - SENCO
Mrs A. Moughan - Student Support Mentor
Mrs K. Wood - Attendance & Engagement Officer
Mr J. Williamson - Behaviour Support Team
Youth Mental Health First Aiders
Selby High School have seven school staff trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid skills. These staff are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and to provide support on a first aid basis. They are not counsellors or therapists, but will take on the role of a first responder to assist pupils in emotional distress. Our Youth Mental Health First Aiders are:
Signposting (Help Outside School)
At Selby High School, we aim to provide a range of opportunities for students to seek support from members of staff and from their peers through the Wellbeing Ambassadors. However, we are aware that for some individuals seeking support in school is still difficult.
This page is designed to help everyone find external resources and support to address any concerns that they have. It is not a comprehensive list, but includes organisations and people that we believe can help. If you have any other organisations that you think we have missed please let us know at school and we will provide the additional links.
 |
Online self-harm support |
 |
Eating Disorder information: 0808 801 0711 |
 |
CAMHS Crisis 0800 0516171 |
 |
Childline
|
 |
0800 008 7452 Compass Phoenix aims to improve the mental heath and wellbeing of children and young people aged 5-18 (25 with SEND) in schools across North Yorkshire. Text: 07520 631168 Buzz Us is a text messaging service for young people aged 11-18 who live in North Yorkshire. |
 |
Drugs information: 0300 123 6600 |
 |
Healthy minds in North Yorkshire |
 |
Switchboard LGBTQ+ Support Switchboard is for all. Figuring out your gender expression? Questioning your sexuality? Or is someone you care about facing a challenge? Wherever you fit into the picture, they are here to listen. Acknowledging and celebrating wherever people are on their journey, they will meet you where you are. 0800 0119 100 Email: hello@switchboard.lgbt |
 |
Information line: 0300 123 3393 Mental Health Charity |
 |
The Mix |
 |
NSPCC |
 |
Offers free courses for parents & teenagers. The passcode is NYFamilies to access these courses for free. |
 |
Papyrus Helpline: 0800 068 41 41 Charity for the prevention of young suicide, offering confidential support and awareness training. |
 |
Samaritans Call 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. jo@samaritans.org Emotional support for anyone feeling down, experiencing distress or struggling to cope. |
 |
Text shout to 85258 |
 |
Young Minds 020 7089 5050 (general enquiries) 0808 802 5544 (parents helpline, for any adult with concerns about the mental health of a child or young person) National charity committed to improving the mental health of all babies, children and young people. Provides information for both parents and young people. |
Where to access local support
HEALTHY CHILD TEAM: 01609 780780
The 5-19 Healthy Child Service is a progressive universal programme which includes universal services appropriate for all children and young people, and additional services for those with specific needs and risk factors. The 5-19 Healthy Child Service works in community settings to deliver universal and targeted interventions designed to meet public health outcomes and ensure the emotional and physical health and wellbeing of families, children and young people across North Yorkshire are met.The 5-19 Healthy Child Service is the first point of contact for schools when there are concerns about a child’s health and wellbeing. Professionals can refer families to the service by completing the “Referral to Children and Family Service” form or by calling the Customer Resolution Centre single point of contact on 01609 780780. Parents, carers and young people themselves can access the service for support and information by calling the Customer Resolution Centre single point of contact on 01609 780780.
COMPASS PHOENIX: 0800 008 7452
Compass Phoenix is an innovative specialist service that helps young people who are engaged in risk taking behaviour to make sustainable lifestyle changes to improve their long-term health, resilience and emotional wellbeing. Compass Phoenix provides the full range of specialist interventions required by young people who have been screened as having moderate or high levels of need with regard to their substance misuse and/or sexual health.
Compass Phoenix Young people aged from nine to 19 (and up to 25 for those with special educational needs or disabilities) across North Yorkshire affected by substance misuse, poor sexual health and issues relating to emotional wellbeing and mental health, can access free help, advice and practical support at Compass Phoenix. Support usually takes place in school or in a place that suits you.
Tel: 01904 661916 Freephone: 0800 008 7452 Email: phoenix@compass-uk.org
Website: North Yorkshire Compass Phoenix
CAMHS
Community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).Single Point of Access (SPA): 01904 615345. 7 days a week, 10am-10pm
CAMHS CRISIS TEAM
Tel: 0800 051 6171 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
PARENTING AND FAMILY SUPPORT- FAMILY LIVES (FORMERLY PARENTLINE PLUS)
Helpline: 0808 800 2222
familylives.org.uk
Support to anyone parenting a child.
Student Wellbeing Ambassadors
Our Student Wellbeing Ambassadors form a crucial part of our Student Leadership structure in school. The role has evolved over time in response to student feedback and the focus areas for student mental health and wellbeing. The role of a Student Wellbeing Ambassador currently involves:
- Promoting wellbeing for students by organising creative, engaging activities;
- Being the driving force behind national & international wellbeing calendar days;
- Being a kind, friendly & approachable presence around school and in the community, signposting students in the direction of help & support.
We currently have 52 Student Wellbeing Ambassadors across years 8 – 10. Applications are welcome via Ready Steady Learn when the application window opens at Easter. More information will be given in the annual Student Leadership assembly.
Wellbeing Award for Schools
About the Wellbeing Award for Schools
We are pleased to announce that Selby High School has been awarded the Wellbeing Award for Schools for another 3 years following a successful reassessment. We now hold this award until March 2026. Click here to read the report from the assessment visit here:
Selby High WAS Reassessment Report 2023
The Wellbeing Award for Schools focuses on ensuring effective practice and provision is in place that promotes the emotional wellbeing and mental health of both staff and students. The award has a focus on changing the long-term culture of a school, and embedding an ethos where mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all. We originally secured this award in March 2019.
With this award, we can continue to:
- Show our commitment to promoting mental health as part of school life
- Improve the emotional wellbeing of staff and pupils
- Ensure that mental health problems are identified early and that appropriate, timely support is provided
- Offer provisions and interventions that match the needs of our pupils and staff
- Engage the whole-school community in the importance of mental health awareness
- Capture the views of parents, students and staff on mental health issues
The Award Objectives
The WAS has eight objectives which focus on areas of evaluation, development and celebration of the work of schools in promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and positive mental health. Each of these areas is further broken down into Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
Objective 1: The school is committed to promoting and protecting positive emotional wellbeing and mental health by achieving the Wellbeing Award for Schools.
Objective 2: The school has a clear vision and strategy for promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health, which is communicated to all involved with the school.
Objective 3: The school has a positive culture which regards the emotional wellbeing and mental health as the responsibility of all.
Objective 4: The school actively promotes staff emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Objective 5: The school prioritises professional learning and staff development on emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Objective 6: The school understands the different types of emotional and mental health needs across the whole-school community and has systems in place to respond appropriately.
Objective 7: The school actively seeks the ongoing participation of the whole-school community in its approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Objective 8: The school works in partnerships with other schools, agencies and available specialist services to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Wellbeing continues to be a huge priority for the school and we will be publishing regular wellbeing updates via the Principal’s newsletter.
Wellbeing News
December 2025
The Retreat continues to offer students a quiet, safe space during social times for those who require a smaller, supportive space within school.
Every Monday and Friday during P1, Emma Elgie, Angela Moughan and Kelly Wood run a wellbeing drop-in from the Retreat. This drop-in offers students the opportunity to speak to a member of staff about any worries they might have at the start and end of the week. Students also spend time completing mindfulness activities and playing games to ensure that by the end of the session, they feel calm and positive and able to fully engage with the rest of their day.
As a school, we have continued to offer high levels of mental health and wellbeing support internally but we also work closely with the Wellbeing in Mind Team who have offered 1:1 and group sessions to a range of our students. Since September, approx 40 students have benefited from group support to help them overcome challenges such as the transition from primary to secondary school, friendships and emotional regulation. We are hopeful that these groups will continue as we move through the year.
The student-led LGBTQ+ support group meets every fortnight with around 20 students attending these sessions. The group is open to all students whether they are part of the LGBTQ+ community or are an LGBTQ+ ally.
In the summer term we are hoping to run a trip to the Wellbeing Festival at Dalby Forest which offers a day of activities aimed at boosting wellbeing and self-esteem.
Safeguarding and Wellbeing at Christmas
As we approach the Christmas holidays, we want to remind our Selby High School Community that the safety, wellbeing and welfare of our students remains our highest priority.
The festive period can be a joyful time, but it can also bring changes to routine, increased time online, and additional pressures for some young people and families. We encourage parents and carers to continue to talk openly with their children, check in on their emotional wellbeing, and support them to stay safe both offline and online.
If you have any safeguarding concerns about or need support for a child during the holiday period, please contact your local authority’s children’s services 0300 131 2 131 or, if a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999.
Young people can also access confidential support through services such as Childline (0800 1111), which is available 24 hours a day.
For other support services please see links on our school website: Selby High School - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our students safe. We wish all our families a restful, safe and happy Christmas and look forward to welcoming everyone back in the New Year.
October 2025
The Wellbeing in Mind Team and Emma Elgie (Student Wellbeing Practitioner) have been delivering a range of support groups including year 7 transition and healthy friendships which have been very successful. There will be an opportunity for students to be involved in other upcoming groups which will include, managing anxiety/worry, self-esteem and resilience, sleep hygiene and emotional regulation. If you would like your child to be added to any of these groups, please reach out to their Year Manager.
The LGBTQ+ peer support group continues to meet in the Retreat every two weeks and is always very well attended. If a student would like more information about the group, please speak to Emma Elgie who is always happy to help.
The Retreat is open everyday before school, break and lunch. The Retreat offers a quiet, safe space for students to go during social times if they are feeling anxious, worried, upset, need to speak to a trusted adult or just want to sit quietly. 1:1 appointments can be booked by speaking to Emma or the relevant Year Manager.
Wellbeing in Mind Team
Find out more about the Wellbeing in Mind Team.
