Student Mental Health Ambassador Programme

Schools can refer students, or young people can put themselves forward to become a Student Mental Health Ambassador.

Our Student Mental Health Ambassador Programme uses our A Child’s Voice model to educate and empower young people to better understand their own mental health and recognise when a peer may need support.

Ambassadors receive structured education and training around:

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing

• Resilience and positive coping strategies

• Healthy boundaries and healthy relationships

• Understanding the psychology of thoughts, feelings and behaviour

• Understanding self-harm, including its risks and consequences

• Recognising possible signs of suicidal thoughts or emotional distress

• How to listen, respond appropriately and encourage a young person to seek help

• Understanding their role within the school's safeguarding policies and procedures

• Knowing when and how to report concerns to a trusted adult or member of the pastoral/safeguarding team

Student Mental Health Ambassadors are not counsellors, therapists or crisis workers. They are trained to recognise concerns, respond safely within their role and never carry responsibility for another young person's safety alone.

Where a concern is identified, the Ambassador is taught to follow the school's safeguarding procedures and pass the concern to the appropriate pastoral or safeguarding lead, who can take the necessary steps to support and safeguard the young person.

 

How to become a Student Mental Health Ambassador

Schools can nominate a young person to become a Student Mental Health Ambassador by emailing their CV, together with a short statement explaining why the young person would like to become a Mental Health Ambassador for their school, to office@thelifematters.co.uk.

 

Young people can also put themselves forward by sending their own CV and a short statement explaining why they would like to become an Ambassador.