The World Health Organisation (WHO) champions World Mental Health Day, and estimates that 1 in 8 people were living with mental illness before the pandemic; those estimates have gone up since the pandemic, of course, when instances of depression and anxiety have risen considerably.
The campaign slogan for World Mental Health Day in 2022 is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority' and here at Northbridge we're taking action!
Our staff and students are planning various activities and events at school to raise awareness about mental health, and we're encouraging our school community to make wellbeing our priority. Some of the wellbeing activities we've been enjoying include yoga in Grade 3, lunchtime meditation for Grades 10-12, and a Grade 9 Design project educating young people about mental health.
At home, families can talk with their children about mental health and how we can take good care of our physical and mental wellbeing. We can talk with our children about how they're feeling, and we can plan ways to celebrate World Mental Health Day in our own families - perhaps you might share a nice meal together, or plan a games evening or family outing.
For more information about World Mental Health Day, please visit World Mental Health Day 2022 (who.int) or World Mental Health Day | United Nations.
The other week I was in Bangkok at the ASAC Basketball Tournament that is open for Grade 6 – 8 students from 9 competing schools across South East Asia. It gave me some time to reflect on the benefits and opportunities that our Northbridge students can access that will develop them holistically and physically.
Academic excellence is at the forefront of education, and whilst our duty as teachers is to foster this, we also have the responsibility to open students’ eyes to the wider world and their social responsibility within it.
Service- learning, or service as action, combines in school learning with supporting local communities, encouraging students to independently research local issues and take action to support those in need.
World Mental Health Day raises awareness of mental health issues around the world. It is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries. This year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is uniting with partners to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work.
Student leadership is a cornerstone of personal and community growth. By developing leadership skills early on, students gain confidence, responsibility, and the ability to inspire others—qualities that will serve them well throughout their lives.
