Thrive Approach to Wellbeing

Introduction

Working alongside the NHS Wellbeing in Mind Team (Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust), we are developing the thrive approach to wellbeing and mental health at Barlby High School.

Barlby High School wellbeing aim:

The wellbeing of all our children is central to their development, it enables them to thrive and flourish, to ‘live life to the full’. 

We are using the 5 Ways to Wellbeing approach to support mental health and wellbeing. These are five simple actions that are known to improve mental health and wellbeing, as promoted by the NHS and charities such as Mind. These 5 ways to wellbeing are:

• Connect

• Be active

• Take notice

• Keep learning

• Give

(This poster can also be seen by students in all classrooms around the school)

The thrive approach, as developed by the Anna Freud Centre, places emphasis on prevention and early intervention. It aims to talk about mental health and mental health support using a common language that everyone understands. The framework is needs-led, whereby mental health needs are defined by young people and families in partnership with professionals. Needs are not based on severity, diagnosis or health care pathways.

The aim is to offer swift and flexible support which focuses on the needs of a young person rather than focussing on a diagnosis. The emphasis on prevention and early intervention looks to increase capacity across already stretched NHS services by empowering young people, their families and professionals to be resilient, to be informed about support available, and to understand what they can do to help themselves.

A video explanation of the thrive model can be seen below: