SCHOOL uniform was shunned in favour of sunshine yellow as a primary school celebrated World Mental Health Day.

Fritwell CE Primary School near Bicester turned buttercup yellow to coincide with the annual awareness event today, which was marked by schools and workplaces across the county and beyond.

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Oxford Mail:

Pic: Jane Leaver

Children were invited to donate money to wear yellow non-uniform clothes, to raise money for the national child and adolescent mental health charity YoungMinds.

The organisation ran a campaign called #HelloYellow yesterday, an initiative that is now in its third year.

Supporters were encouraged to wear the bright colour to shine a light on mental health and show people that they are not alone.

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Jane Leaver, a teacher at Fritwell and the school's health and wellbeing lead, organised the school's participation.

She said: "As a school, we feel passionate about our children’s mental health and wellbeing.

"The aim was to show children who may be experiencing difficulties that they are not alone.

"We spent the day doing a range of activities which included mindfulness, making posters and inventing our own yellow superheroes."

This year's theme for World Mental Health Day was suicide prevention.

Other Oxfordshire schools which marked the day included Magdalen College School in Oxford, which ran a series of interactive workshops, lectures and activities yesterday.

Oxford Mail:

Magdalen College School pupils take lessons in the importance of rest for World Mental Health Day. Picture: Magdalen College School

Sleep therapist Natalie Pennicotte-Collier gave a talk and students took part in activities including cooking and yoga.

Head of Sixth Form at MCS, Dr Colin Pearson, said: "The aim of the day was to equip our pupils with knowledge and strategies to enable them to look after their own mental health more purposefully.

"Just as we prioritise physical health, our mental health can be managed and promoted in a similar vein."