World Mental Health Day
On Tuesday 10 October it was World Mental Health Day. This year we placed a focus on kindness to self, specifically self-love.
The school was full of pride as the girls and staff alike reflected on what had made them proud that day. A big thank you to Years 3 to 6 for taking an active role in having these discussions with our younger girls.
Throughout the week the girls explored their interpretation of what self-love means to them, why it is important and how we can incorporate it into our daily lives. We explored the following quote by Dr Barbara Fredrickson – ‘The negative screams at you, but the positive only whispers.’
It was wonderful to hear the girls’ insightful conversations about what we can do to turn those positive whispers into loud affirmations.
School Newspaper Report
World Mental Health is a universal human right. World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. Mental health can reduce people’s stigma and can encourage those who are struggling to seek help and find support.
It’s important for caregivers, friends and loved ones to understand the impact that mental health has on daily life. This year’s theme is about self-love and human rights.
What does Miss Massey, Mental Health Lead at Ken Prep, say?
Miss Massey’s questions are: ‘What does self-love mean to you? Is it easier to love others or to love yourself?’
Three words from Miss Massey to describe World Mental Health Day were kindness, affirmation and self-love.
Why is self-love important?
- Helps to build resilience
- Step out of your comfort zone
- More confident with challenges
- Tell yourself you can
- Be positive
- Helps us manifest a positive outlook
- It boosts our mood
- Improved confidence
- Shows that everyone is perfectly imperfect
- Have a growth mindset
- Don’t let the negatives overwhelm you
How do people celebrate World Mental Health Day?
Some people come together with friends, family or colleagues to raise money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation. Another great way some people celebrate this day is to check on a friend or a loved one who has been struggling. A famous quote is… ‘The negative screams at you, but the positive only whispers.’ – Barbara Fredrickson
We asked our classmates what does the below quote mean to you?
‘When good and bad things happen to a human the human only focuses on the negatives. Negatives usually leave you sad even when something positive happens. I think that the negative is more important in this quote than the positive because it says the negative screams and screaming has more of a bigger impact than whispering. It also shows that they think more of the negatives because screaming is louder than whispering and in my perspective, the negatives are bigger than the positives.’
This quote means to me that the negative things are easier and bigger to remember while positive things are just everyday things.
How did Ken Prep celebrate World Mental Health Day?
To celebrate, there were strips of paper in the bathrooms saying kind things on the mirrors, every student got a sticker that said ‘ask me what I’m proud of’ and in the playground, people wrote what they were proud of in chalk.
Look at our Ken Prep instagram page where there’s a video of some girls saying what they’re proud of!!
