Reasons to be cheerful

by Marie Williams and Paul Bailey

Pupils from Years 7, 8 and 9 worked together on art-based activities to produce positive images of health, particularly mental health. They also wrote down and recorded their own version of Ian Dury’s hit record, "Reasons To Be Cheerful."

Pupils had access to a graffiti wall on which they expressed their feelings and made facial expression cards and plotted imaginary life maps.

The whole day was organised by the Netherton One Stop Project, a health and care initiative supported by the Netherton Partnership and Sefton Health. Face to Face, a helpline service for young people and Netherton Choices, a drugs education project, were also on hand to provide displays and information to the pupils.

At the end of the day each pupil received a goody bag containing leaflets, postcards, stickers, pens and pencils, which also included useful phone numbers and lots of easy to read information aimed specifically at young people.

There is growing recognition that our mental well-being is just as important as our physical health. Most people experience mental distress at sometime and it can effect our ability to handle day to day problems and enjoy life.

Young people are especially vulnerable and life events such as bereavement, parental divorce or moving to a new school can all affect a young person's mental well-being.

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