Students and staff at a Basingstoke school held ‘Inside Out Day’ for Children’s Mental Health Week

Due to the current climate and students working from home, Everest Community Academy in Popley felt it was more important than ever to spark the conversation about mental health and wellbeing.

For Children's Mental Health Week, students and staff took part in a virtual Inside Out Day in which they wore a piece of clothing inside out, and sent in a selfie to show their support.

The idea represented the concept that how someone looks on the outside does not always reflect how they feel on the inside.

Alongside this, students were educated on signs of poor and good mental health, the positive power of social media and the impact of kindness, gratitude and resilience.

Damien Murphy, head of Year 10 at Everest Academy, who organised the event, said: “Inside Out Day was intended to bring some much-needed fun and silliness to these difficult times our students are going through.

“More than ever, Personal Social and Health Education is critical in reminding our students that we can all look out for each other. Checking in with friends and family members is so important, something that we once all took for granted is now essential. At the heart of the Inside Out Assembly and the subsequent tutorial we held, was gratitude, embedding the idea in student's minds that despite our present circumstances there is so much to be grateful for.”

Mr Murphy added: “Teachers continue throughout the pandemic to be overwhelmed by our student's thoughtfulness and selfless acts in ensuring others around them are looked out for. This brought us full circle to the message of Inside Out Day, random acts of kindness to those closest to us will ensure we go a long way to discovering how they are feeling on the inside as opposed to only what we see on the outside.

“Thank you to all students and staff members that sent in their selfies.”