BISP recently hosted a parent workshop focused on mental health, aimed at fostering understanding and reducing stigma within our school and community. The workshop covered important topics such as recognising signs of mental health challenges, identifying and addressing stigma, and integrating mental health conversations into family life. These discussions are essential for creating safe and supportive environments both at school and at home.

We were fortunate to have Wilton Atkins, Director of the Mental Skills Institute, and Milla Budiarto, Founder and Director of Safe Space Phuket, join our school counsellors, Amy Pothong and Thomas Bell. Together, they shared their extensive experience and insights into mental health in schools, offering practical strategies for parents, teachers, and students to better navigate mental health concerns.

Wilton Atkins, with his background in mental skills performance development, provided valuable strategies for integrating values in families to strengthen mental health conversations. Milla Budiarto emphasised the importance of ‘safe spaces’ for discussing mental health and highlighted common mental health trends in Phuket. Our school counsellors further contributed by discussing their direct experiences working with students, stressing the importance of early intervention and creating a supportive school culture.

The workshop gave parents the opportunity to explore these topics through both theoretical perspectives and real-life examples, ensuring they left with not just knowledge but actionable steps to take home. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to prioritising mental health within our school and the wider community.