Mental health can be seen as a taboo topic, instead we should be openly discussing our mental health to better understand ourselves and those around us. Stereotypes and stigma can stop people reaching out for support for fear of being perceived as weak, when in fact, it takes enormous courage and great strength to ask for help.
This week is Mental Health Awareness week. The wellbeing team here at Avondale School are using this platform to ignite conversations and help begin the process of breaking down negative stigma attached to mental health. We are having conversations around being kind to yourself, how mistakes can help us grow, why it’s important to 'take a break' and how everyone’s life journey is different.
People are naturally inclined to be self-critical and, as a result, we often find it difficult to be kind to ourselves. A good measure is to assess if we would speak to our friends or family the way we speak to ourselves. This negative self-talk can impact us the most when we make mistakes. When this happens it’s important to not beat ourselves up and instead learn from our mistakes: this is how we learn and grow as individuals.
Life is so busy – take a break. How can we take a break when there is so much to do? The advantages of taking a break for even 5 minutes cannot be overstated. Being present in the moment, being still and noticing our breathing can sometimes be all we need to help reset in our busy world.
We are all on individual life journeys with twists and turns which can, at times, become overwhelming. This is when talking to someone about your mental health can be helpful. Mental Health is as important as physical health, we just can’t always see it.
Ms Sarah O'Hara
School Counsellor
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