What is banter? Banter is the harmless exchange of social interaction between friends which involves teasing or mocking one another, either on a one-to-one basis for more commonly on a friendship group basis.

But when does banter become bullying?

Wellbeing Newsletter No.7 - Banter

You don’t need to be physically alone or cut off to feel lonely. You might be surrounded by other people. But it can feel like you’re on your own or that no one understands how you feel. Loneliness can make us feel down. And if you feel like this, you can get help.

Wellbeing Newsletter No.6 - Loneliness

School is a big part of life, so it is important to feel happy there. Going back to school after the holidays can bring up lots of feelings. You may be happy to go back! But if you’re scared or anxious, there are things you can do to make it better.

Wellbeing Newsletter No.5 - Returning to School after the Summer Holidays

Perfectionism is a personality trait which occurs when an individual places themselves under high levels of pressure to meet high expectations. 

Wellbeing Newsletter No.4 - Perfectionism

Top tips for parents for managing perfectionists

Regularly getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to ensuring we enjoy good mental health.
When we don’t get good sleep, it can contribute to various problems, including depression and anxiety. But it can sometimes feel hard to achieve amid the pressures of daily life.

Wellbeing Newsletter No.3 - Sleep

5 tips to fall asleep fast

Self-esteem is how we think, see and feel about ourselves. It isn’t just about how we physically look but also how confident we feel.

Good self-esteem means we feel good about ourselves and confident in who we are and in our abilities. When we have good self-esteem, we’re not too worried about what other people think, or how much we get wrong, because we accept ourselves just the way we are, without judgement. It also means we believe we are worthy and deserving of all the good things in life.

But sometimes, we might find it hard to believe in ourselves and feel good enough. That’s okay - it’s normal to struggle with our self-esteem and this can change at different times in our lives.

Wellbeing Newsletter No.2 - Self-Esteem and Believing in Yourself

Change is an inevitable part of life, and school! We’re coming to the end of the academic year which brings change for all of you in school as you will be moving up a year group or leaving Kendrick, having a new tutor, and Year 9 and Year 11 will be starting their GCSEs or A Levels. Some of you may also be dealing with other changes - maybe in your family, moving home or relationships. 

Change can be hard to cope with, especially if you're not feeling prepared for it. But there are ways you can feel more in control and we will share these with you over the term.

In the meantime, you might like to watch this video on Dealing with Change from Rise Above.

For information and practical tips from Young Minds to help parents and carers to support their child or young person during a time of transition or change please click here.

It’s natural to need time to adjust to a change. You might feel surprised, happy or even angry and that’s okay. Feelings can pass in time, but give yourself time and keep doing things to feel better. Distracting yourself when you are feeling low or overwhelmed can help you feel better.

There are lots of ways to feel calmer. It is about finding what works for you. Try some breathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress.

Visit the Childline Calm Zone for information on:

Activities and tools
Breathing exercises
Expressing yourself
Yoga videos
Play games
Ways to cope videos

Wellbeing Newsletter No.1 - Dealing with Change