How to improve mental health in schools: tips and ideas
Why mental health needs to be a whole-school responsibility.
Mental health is something we all have. When we’re mentally healthy, we feel good about ourselves, build strong relationships with others, and can cope with the full range of emotions that life throws our way.
For children and young people, mental health is increasingly under pressure. Around three pupils in every primary school class are now likely to have a diagnosable mental health condition, and boys are twice as likely to experience poor mental health. Academic pressure, bullying, family issues, and the impact of social media are all contributing factors.
Schools can’t solve every problem, but they can be places where mental health is understood, supported, and nurtured. In this blog, we explore how to improve mental health in schools using practical tips, ideas, and expert insight from the tootoot team.
Why mental health must be a whole-school responsibility
Good mental health helps children to learn, build friendships, and enjoy school life. And while annual awareness days - like Mental Health Awareness Week or World Mental Health Day - are valuable moments to start the conversation, the real impact comes from embedding mental health into the everyday culture of your school.
This means making space for wellbeing in policies, in staff training, and in the daily lives of pupils, teachers, and parents. When mental health becomes a shared priority, schools become safer, happier places for everyone.
8 ways to improve mental health in schools
Create a supportive environment
Pupils are more likely to open up when they feel safe and understood. Creating an environment where students feel comfortable expressing their emotions and asking for help when needed is central to this. This might be by providing counselling, creating peer support groups, ensuring there are trusted adults who are trained in listening, and sharing mental health initiatives.
2. Normalise discussions about mental health
Mental health should be talked about as openly as physical health. Regular discussions in classrooms, assemblies, and staff meetings help reduce stigma and show pupils it's okay to ask for help.
3. Involve the whole school community
Improving mental health in schools isn’t just about pupils. Staff wellbeing, parental support, and leadership buy-in all play vital roles. A whole-school approach means including governors, staff, families, and community partners in your mental health plans.
4. Make mental health resources easy to access
Mental health displays, notice boards, newsletters, and assemblies and lessons are great places to share resources such as books, websites, and helplines. Make it clear where pupils and families can go for help.
5. Promote mindfulness and healthy coping techniques
Make pupils aware of activities they can do to support themselves with stress and anxiety, such as relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, self-care, and movement. We’ve included some simple mindfulness ideas from the tootoot team below.
6. Build peer support networks
Children often talk to each other before approaching an adult. Create and train a team of peer supporters who can spot signs to look out for and feel confident supporting their peers with those conversations.
7. Invest in staff training
Train all school staff in basic mental health awareness. From lunchtime supervisors to heads of years, every adult should understand the signs to look out for and how to respond.
8. Connect with external services
Speak to local organisations, mental health charities and school nurses about how they can help. Invite guest speakers, host workshops, or signpost external support that can strengthen your school's offer.
Simple, everyday activities to support pupil mental health and wellbeing
Looking for some extra ideas? Here are a few simple activities that help pupils improve their resilience and mental health.
Start a gratitude journal - At the end of each day, write down one thing they achieved (e.g cooking a meal, doing some exercise, something they learned) and one thing they are grateful for (e.g a good book, a frend, something they saw in nature, ther family or a pet)
Practice kindness - A small act of kindness - such as helping a classmate - can boost their own self-esteem and how they feel about themselves.
Positive self-talk - Start their day with a positive affirmation: “I am smart”, “I am kind”, “Today will be a good day” are some of the Tootoot team’s favourites.
Write a thank you note: Let someone know you appreciate them. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.
Take time to laugh: Watch a funny clip, read a joke book, or spend time with someone who makes them laugh. Laughter reduces anxiety and brings joy.
Get active: Movement boosts mood. Being active through dance, walking, active play and playing sport is great for your mental wellbeing and helps pupils feel good about themselves.
Looking for more ideas to support pupil mental health in school? Take a look at our guide to mental in schools.
How Ince CE Primary supports their pupils’ mental health
At Ince CE Primary, mental health isn’t an add-on - it’s woven into the culture of their school. Pastoral Support Officer, Jaime spoke with one of the Tootoot team to s mreahore about their approach to mental health.
Some of the most effective ways Ince CE Primary have found to support pupil mental health are:
Give pupils a way to speak up through tootoot - Digital platforms like tootoot can encourage students to share concerns they might otherwise have withheld.
Build a culture of openness - Have regular discussions about mental health to destigmatise the topic and make students feel more comfortable seeking help.
Train all staff - ensure that every member of staff feels confident handling mental health discussions, creating a supportive environment for students.
Monitor and evaluate your approach - use tools to track the effectiveness of mental health initiatives and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement
Track pupil mental health with tootmood
Creating a mentally healthy school starts with understanding how pupils are really feeling. Tootmood, a survey tool for pupil voice and wellbeing, makes this simple by helping students reflect on their emotions through quick daily check-ins. It gives you the data to spot patterns, pick up early warning signs and respond to issues before they escalate. It’s a small actions that creates space for bigger conversations.
Start with one small change, build on what works, and keep listening to the voices of the people that matter most: your pupils.
To learn more about how tootoot and toodmood can support mental health and wellbeing in your school, book a chat with the tootoot team today.
