Mental Health Week

2020 has been an incredibly challenging year on a number of levels. In having to navigate our way through a pandemic, there have been many obstacles and challenges along the way. Sudden changes to routine, important events cancelled at short notice, and social isolation to name just a few. Hence, this year, perhaps more than any other, has been a time where reflecting and being aware of our feelings and prioritising our mental health have been crucial. 

This year’s Mental Health Week (MHW) could not have come at a better time. The theme ‘Let’s Take Care of You, Me and Everyone’ has been a timely reminder that we are not alone in challenging times and that we must take time each day to safeguard our own mental health and also support those around us where possible.

This year, MHW started with a ‘Welcome to Mental Health Week’ address from our esteemed captains Flynn and Lucie, where they gave a snapshot of the week ahead and shared the strategies they use in nurturing their own mental health each day. The address can be accessed here.

We hope you glimpse below some of our favourite activities from Mental Health Week 2020 at Girton.

Fortune Fruit:

Zahra Chowdhury, Sophia Solari Wang and Mabh Torr, three of the best supporters of mental health week, handed out ‘Fortune Fruit’ to students on Monday afternoon. Each item of fruit was personally decorated with a message of goodwill or kindness. The focus of the activity was to promote kindness among the school community, offer encouragement in hard times, whilst also promoting the importance of eating healthy, delicious fruit (filled with all things great to support the growth of happy brains)

Origami Flowers for Residents of Strath Haven.

Students were invited to join a group of like-minded peers to create beautiful paper flowers for the residents at Uniting AgeWell Strath-Haven Community. We know 2020 has been a scary time for the elderly, but many residents in aged care have also been isolated from their loved ones for most of the year. In providing these vibrant gifts, the main aim was to let recipients know that we are thinking of them (and hopefully to brighten someone’s day).

In addition, students added ‘leaves of kindness’ to the stems of the flowers, which included handwritten messages as an extra touch. Some of the lovely messages can be seen below.

In addition to the paper flowers, Joanna Mclean kindly and generously brought several beautiful bunches of flowers from her garden to share with the residents. Joanna can be seen below with her beautiful roses that were warmly received by Strath Haven residents.

Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to have the students and the residents together for a photo, however, the flowers were gratefully received from Uniting AgeWell Strath-Haven Community– and they promise to send us some photos of the residents with their flowery gifts.

Lunchtime Song Shuffle in PA Courtyard

Another fun-filled activity (the COVID-way) was the lunchtime Song shuffle in the PA Courtyard.  Students were asked to submit their favourite songs via Astra, then the songs were put on shuffle and boomed out to students at lunchtime in the courtyard. If your song happened to be on at three specific times during the lunch-break (and you were present and being a part of the fun) you won a meal deal from the school canteen. Thank you to Danai, Jack, Lucie and other helpers for hosting the show.

It was fantastic to have so many students involved in Mental Health Week this year (Covid Edition) Students learnt a lot about caring for themselves and others, but importantly they also had a lot of fun along the way. A special thank you to those students who actively played a role in presenting this year’s activities and making Mental Health Week 2020 a resounding success. We look forward to bringing you an even bigger week of activities next year!

Mrs Alli Williams

School Nurse