Celebrating World Mental Health Day with our School Counsellor and Mental Health Lead
To celebrate World Mental Health Day, we are shining a spotlight on Lucy Bailie, School Counsellor at White Lodge since 2022, and Naomi Rogers, our new Mental Health Lead.
Lucy and Naomi are promoting this initiative at the School by sending a series of daily emails to all staff and students with wellbeing tips and tricks, such as taking time to rest and box breathing exercises. Additionally, they will hang posters and host informal activities at the School next week to encourage everyone to focus on their wellbeing. ‘We all deserve good mental health!’ says Lucy.
Young dancers face unique challenges in full-time vocational training and residential education, which Lucy addresses individually with students and in collaboration with fellow staff members. ‘My role as School Counsellor is to provide a safe space for students to explore and reflect on whatever challenges they may be facing in their life. Young dancers at White Lodge are often away from home and away from family, so homesickness at the start of the first term can be the greatest challenge. I work with the pastoral staff to make sure students feel supported and safe to share their worries and give them access to strategies that might help them settle in and really enjoy the opportunities here – in and outside the ballet studios.’
Lucy and Naomi work together to offer a comprehensive counselling service, which includes drop-in sessions and booked appointments. They also provide psychoeducation sessions on a range of mental health topics as part of the Healthy Dancer Programme. In collaboration with Safeguarding and Wellbeing Lead Belle Casbarra, they work as a team to provide resources for students to privately report any concerns they may have and encourage them to speak up when they need help. They also develop content for the annual Mental Health Awareness Week in May, offering activities and hanging posters to highlight the importance of community, self-care and destigmatising conversations. Staff are also encouraged to participate in training and events.
For dancers wanting to improve their mental health, Lucy suggests, ‘Make some time for self-care. Ballet training – and life in general – can be demanding, and it’s easy to get caught up in a routine where looking after your mental health slips down the list of priorities on a busy day. I encourage everyone, myself included, to take some time each day to pause and listen to what you might need right now, whether it’s rest, meditation, time in the fresh air or just a cup of tea and a chat with a friend. Taking care of your wellbeing should never be a luxury, and self-care isn’t selfish!’
Naomi adds, ‘The ballet world is full of perfectionism. It’s important to find ways to be compassionate with yourself. Mistakes, setbacks, uncertainty and injuries are part of the process, and if you learn how to speak to yourself with kindness, it will support you in being able to find enjoyment, curiosity and creativity in the work you do.’
