From the MPS Wellbeing Team

A message from the Murrumbeena Primary School Wellbeing Team: 

 'R U OK?' Day and 'Love Your Body Week'.

Now, more than ever, is the time to facilitate and encourage important discussions about wellbeing and mental health. This week brings mental health to focus with two critically important events -  'R U OK?' Day and 'Love Your Body Week'.

Both of these events have their own significance in the current climate, of course, but year levels at M.P.S. are making a concerted effort this week, in recognition of 'R U OK?' Day and 'Love Your Body Week', to promote mindfulness, honest discussions about mental health, and in age appropriate ways, tackle feelings of anxiety or stress. 

'R U OK?' Day is designed to inspire and empower everyone (not only young people) to meaningfully connect with others around them, and start conversations in which people can share how they are truly feeling. For young people, this particular day is a very important reminder that "it's okay to not be okay", and encourages them to share how they're feeling with trusted adults around them.

Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:

1. Ask R U OK?

2. Listen.

3. Encourage action.

4. Check in.

More resources can be found here: https://www.ruok.org.au/

Love Your Body Week focuses on the important topics of body image and self esteem...

The Butterfly Foundation's annual national awareness campaign to promote body confidence and celebrate body diversity in all Australians. Love Your Body Week encourages people to engage in behaviours that are positive and respectful to themselves, their body and also to others. The campaign takes place every year in the first full week of September.

As a parent or carer, you are in a position to have a positive impact from an early age on how your child feels about their body and their self-esteem. Often what we do and say in front of our children can influence their body image and where they see their value.

Love Your Body Week recognises that: 

• Healthy bodies come in a variety of shapes and sizes 

• Body image is how we FEEL about our appearance. It’s not about how we look.

• We are more than our bodies! Body shape does not define our worth 

• It is important to show our bodies respect by moving, nourishing and nurturing them 

• It is better to focus on what our body can DO, rather than how it looks 

• Body bullying and food shaming is not helpful and is never, ever OK.

Please go to https://butterfly.org.au/get-involved/campaigns/love-your-body-week-for-schools/lybw-for-schools-resources/ for more resources if you are interested.

Caitlin Callanan