Throughout May, St. Catherine’s British School proudly marked Mental Health Awareness Month, with Mental Health Awareness Week taking place from 11–17 May. Led by our School Counsellors, Ms Grigoratos and Mr Zoukas, and supported by our pastoral team, efforts highlighted the importance of emotional wellbeing and the role it plays in helping every member of our community thrive.

At St. Catherine’s, we believe that mental health and wellbeing are fundamental to both academic success and personal growth. Supporting emotional wellbeing helps students build confidence, develop healthy relationships, navigate challenges, and feel safe and valued within the school environment. Equally, fostering a positive culture of wellbeing strengthens staff morale, engagement, and resilience across the whole community.

By encouraging dialogue around mental health, we continue to reduce stigma, promote understanding, and ensure that no one feels alone in their struggles. Through kindness, empathy, and mutual respect, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment where every student and staff member feels supported.

A number of meaningful initiatives took place across Lower and Upper school during the week led by School Welfare Counsellor Angelik Grigoratos through counselling groups, clubs, and individual sessions.

Lower School

• Year 5 students participated in the Lunch Bunch: Friendship Ambassadors group explored important topics including mental health awareness, anxiety, healthy coping strategies, friendships, conflict resolution, and digital wellbeing. Through discussions, videos, and collaborative activities, students reflected on the importance of expressing emotions, seeking support when needed, showing empathy towards others, and practising respectful digital communication.
• Individual wellbeing sessions also provided younger students with age-appropriate opportunities to better understand emotions and anxiety. Books such as "The Huge Bag of Worries" were used to encourage conversations around worries and feelings, helping children identify trusted adults and positive coping strategies. Students further explored themes such as confidence, self-esteem, resilience, growth mindset, and emotional wellbeing through guided activities and reflective discussions.

Upper School

• In Upper School, wellbeing remained an important focus through initiatives such as the Creative Collective Club, where students discussed the impact of healthy eating, exercise, and sleep on both physical and mental wellbeing.
• During Breakfast Club sessions, students explored what mental health means, how to recognise when support may be needed, and the different ways they can access help within the school community.
• In Year 7 PSHCE lessons, students explored mental health through discussions focused on understanding emotions, building resilience, and recognising ways to seek support. Prior to this, students examined healthy lifestyles, including the importance of balanced nutrition, physical activity, and healthy sleep habits. Together, these topics help students understand the close connection between physical and mental wellbeing while empowering them to make informed and healthy choices in their everyday lives.
• One exciting addition was a large new collection of self-care and wellbeing books delivered to the Upper School library, generously funded by the PTSA. The timing perfectly complemented our “May Mental Health and Self-Care Month” focus, providing students with valuable resources to explore topics such as mindfulness, emotional wellbeing, resilience, and self-care strategies.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the school is hosting a special Partnership with Parents discussion on June 5th titled The Impact of Our Parenting Style - click here to read more and register your spot. The session further highlights the school’s commitment to supporting the wider community by engaging both students and parents in discussions around mental health, wellbeing, and child development.

These initiatives reflect the school’s continued commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students to develop emotional awareness, resilience, and healthy habits in a supportive and nurturing environment.

At St. Catherine’s, academic excellence is only part of the equation. Even more important are the compassionate, resilient, and emotionally aware young people we are proud to call our students.

By continuing to prioritise wellbeing across all areas of school life, we strengthen a culture where care, connection, and support remain at the heart of our community.