STUDENT WELLBEING
WELLBEING RESOURCES
We know that it can sometimes be hard to find the necessary resources in relation to mental health, bullying and family violence, especially when things are tough. For this reason, the School has a small webpage with links related to health and wellbeing resources. This can be found on the School's website under Other Resources or can be found here.
HALT – RECAP
Hunger, Anger/Anxiety, Loneliness, Tiredness
BY MATT EDWARDS (SECONDARY CHAPLAIN)
I thought a recap on HALT would be good. Because addressing the stressors of Hunger, Anger/Anxiety, Loneliness and Tiredness, is good. Let’s see how good it really is.
We cannot help that our bodies are made the way that they are. We need to eat, sleep, exercise, have friends and have a meaning in life, because they are good things for us. And it is quite clear to see how they help to diminish the stressful impact of HALT. Seen this way, they are a necessity. Have you viewed them this way before? A great way for our kids to see the necessity for these things, is having them demonstrated. Aspiring footballers copy professional footballers. For our kids to be healthy, they need examples of healthy lives to imitate.
A great difficulty for our society, is that there are so many choices in life. We can call it opportunity, choice, diversity, progress and many other things. But sometimes, choice can be a threat to what is good. Let me explain. Because we have limited time in our days, when we say yes to something, we are often saying no to something too. Yes, to a long movie, no to enough sleep. Yes, to those yummy snacks, no to healthy food. Yes, to scrolling on my phone, no to exercise. Time as a resource means that we are constantly investing it in something. Investing it in sleep brings the reward of better brain function and ability to handle stress. Investing time in positive friendships gives a sense of belonging and a greater confidence. That’s good!
I am not attempting to be a kill joy here. But there is a problem. What is good, does not always feel good (at least in the moment). Yet, kids actually learn resiliency and perseverance when they say yes to what is good, though it may not feel good, and no to whatever makes them feel good (but isn’t good) in the moment.
Without the mental acceptance that these foundational aspects of life are good, it will be hard to prioritise them. If our kids learn to do them when they are younger, it may make it easier for them as they enter adulthood. That is definitely good.
If your child has ongoing problems with any of these things, it is well worth investigating how these can be improved. A GP is a great place to begin. Below are some useful links too;
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-and-your-mood
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/wellbeing/sleep#how-poor-sleep-can-make-each-day-harder