Telephone: 01369 705010

Established in 1641

Scottish Mental Health First Aid
Many of our Senior Peer Mentors are trained in Mental Health First Aid. This allows them to understand, give advice; sign post where to go and who to speak to for help to our younger pupils who may be struggling with their mental health. This added knowledge and openness help break down the stigma of discussing mental health within school. Dunoon Grammar School currently has 15 of our senior pupils trained in SMHFA.
 
Mental Health Committee
Dunoon Grammar School’s Mental Health Committee is formed of senior pupils and Mr Strathdee. The committee meet every second Wednesday during lunchtime to discuss recent news surrounding mental health and how the stigma of talking about mental health can be tackled within the school. Ideas such as increasing music and relaxation during classes; a safe space to talk, and organising a Feels FM event for the school have been raised and are in the planning stages.
 
Headstrong
Brian and Mark from Headstrong have been working with the school to try and help support our mental health and wellbeing. Year group, smaller groups and one-to-one sessions are delivered by Headstrong throughout the school calendar to help address anxiety and stress that school and life can bring. Brian and Mark are not psychotherapists or counsellors, but are specialist Teen Coaches who understand and work with the teenage mind every day.
 
School Counsellor – Dee
Dee is our School Counsellor who is available to talk to when pupils are struggling with their mental health. Dee arranges one-to-one meetings to discuss anxieties and stresses. These are offered on a referral basis or a drop in session at lunchtimes.
 
Life Coach – Susan Hoy
Susan Hoy is our Life Coach and works on a referral system from the Heads of House. She is trained in supporting pupils in finding and developing strategies to help improve their mental health.
 
Peer Mentors
Sometimes pupils might feel more comfortable talking to someone their own age. As mentioned above, our SMHFA trained seniors are assigned junior pupils who they talk to and are an extra level of support in discussing mental health.
 
In School Supporter
Our In School Supporters are offered to pupils who may want to talk to someone on a regular basis and are someone they can trust and build a relationship with. They offer a range of activities based on what the pupils wants to do; it may be going for a walk or sitting with a hot chocolate. Our In School Supporters are a listening ear and can help talk through anxieties and stresses with our young people – helping develop their own coping strategies.