North Shields students get app happy

Actions may speak louder than words but students in North Shields discovered the importance of both when they marked World Mental Health Day with crucial conversation as well as some practical measures.

All year groups at St Thomas More Catholic High School took part in themed assemblies in the run up to the annual awareness event on 10 October, while there was also the opportunity to put theory into practice.

Erin Fairlamb is Senior Mental Health Lead at the school, which is a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, and organised the week’s events.

“In the lead-up to World Mental Health Day, St Thomas More welcomed Ben from Soluna by Kooth to lead our daily assemblies under the theme ‘A Space to be You’,” she explained. 

“Ben opened up vital conversations across all year groups about emotional wellbeing, self-care, and the importance of looking after our mental health.”

The NHS-approved mental health platform offers a free, safe space for young people to access support from qualified professionals, as well as activities designed to support wellbeing goals, and is available via the Kooth website or as a phone app.

Mrs Fairlamb continued: “Ben walked students through how the Soluna app can offer practical, everyday support to help put care into practice.

“Designed specifically for young people, the platform gives students a confidential space where they can message one-to-one with trained mental-health professionals, use self-help tools like mood trackers and personal journaling, and read guides on handling exam stress, sleep, and relationships.

“It also features a fully moderated community where young people can share advice and support each other anonymously.

“Students were given QR codes during assembly to easily download or explore the app.”