Wellbeing update
by Ms Gemma Anderson, Student Wellbeing Leader (Acting)
Box Hill High School
R U OK Day
Last week we marked R U OK Day at BHHS. R U OK is a national suicide prevention charity and registered health promotion. It promotes the power of meaningful connection with those around us, providing four clear steps to follow:
1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen.
3. Encourage Action.
4. Check in.
The Year 8 and Year 11 leaders collaborated on plans for the day, running lunchtime activities such as face painting, positivity chain creation, handing out yellow ribbons and conversation cards.
Body Awareness Week
This term we celebrated Body Awareness Week, an official campaign of the Butterfly Foundation. This year’s theme was “Unpacking the Why: What Causes Eating Disorders”, promoting individuals to celebrate what our bodies can do rather than how they look. Events ran across the week and included the making of gratitude origami attached to Year 7 lockers, mindful yoga, crafting kindness affirmation cards and building a BHHS gratitude tree.
Students were also provided with personal daily challenges to practice gratitude for our bodies and strengths rather than looks and share self-care tips.
Headspace Box Hill
A few weeks ago, our Year 7 to 9 class captains visited Headspace to learn about the space and the services they provide. During their visit they engaged in practical activities to reduce stress and increase mental wellbeing such as box breathing, gratitude and self-talk exercises. They were also encouraged to identify their personal support networks available if they experience a mental health challenge.
The leaders presented the information gained from their visit back to their class, running the exercises and identifying ways headspace and other mental health resources can help. Thank you to the class captains who demonstrated great leadership during these presentations.