Mrs Josie Crisara

Wellbeing at Aitken College

On the College Calendar, Friday 14 August is a designated Student Free Day. Originally, the day was planned to enable teachers to focus on assessment. This day is still a designated Student Free Day; however, considering the impact of COVID-19 on parents, students and staff, we are now labelling 14 August a ‘Wellbeing Day’. All staff, students and parents are encouraged to use this day to attend to your mental health. The College will be closed on this day.

The following article is from the Beyond Blue website and further supporting links can also be found at: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/what-is-mental-health

‘What is Mental Health?'

It’s an expression we use every day, so it might surprise you that the term ‘mental health’ is frequently misunderstood.

‘Mental health’ is often used as a substitute for mental health conditions – such as depression, anxiety conditions, schizophrenia, and others. According to the World Health Organisation, however, mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” So rather than being about ‘what’s the problem?’ it’s really about ‘what’s going well?'

''Mental health is about wellness rather than illness''

To make things a bit clearer, some experts have tried coming up with different terms to explain the difference between ‘mental health’ and ‘mental health conditions’. Phrases such as ‘good mental health’, ‘positive mental health’, ‘mental wellbeing’, ‘subjective wellbeing’ and even ‘happiness’ have been proposed by various people to emphasise that mental health is about wellness rather than illness. While some say this has been helpful, others argue that using more words to describe the same thing just adds to the confusion. As a result, others have tried to explain the difference by talking about a continuum where mental health is at one end of the spectrum – represented by feeling good and functioning well – while mental health conditions (or mental illness) are at the other – represented by symptoms that affect people’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour.

“The benefits of staying well”

Research shows that high levels of mental health are associated with increased learning, creativity and productivity, more pro-social behaviour and positive social relationships, and with improved physical health and life expectancy. In contrast, mental health conditions can cause distress, impact on day-to-day functioning and relationships, and are associated with poor physical health and premature death from suicide. But it’s important to remember that mental health is complex. The fact that someone is not experiencing a mental health condition doesn’t necessarily mean their mental health is flourishing. Likewise, it’s possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling well in many aspects of life. Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally and socially healthy – the way we think, feel and develop relationships - and not merely the absence of a mental health condition.

“Beyond Blue's vision is that everyone achieves their best possible mental health”

While Beyond Blue's primary focus is on the needs of people affected by depression, anxiety and suicide, we also believe that a better understanding of what we mean by mental health and how to achieve it will help everyone in Australia reach their full potential. This will also contribute to the prevention of mental health conditions, and support people who have experienced these conditions to get as well as they can and lead full and contributing lives. Having social connections, good personal relationships and being part of a community are vital to maintaining good mental health and contribute to people's recovery, should they become unwell. However, if you feel that you may be affected by depression or anxiety remember they are treatable conditions and effective treatments are available. The earlier you seek support, the better.’

Promoting Wellbeing at Aitken College

The Wellbeing and Mental Health of our community is a priority, so we would like to promote the importance of self-care, physically, emotionally, socially and academically. The Wellbeing Day on 14 August provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge and communicate that we care and we are all in this together to support one another.

The College is registered with ‘Be You’ (connected to Beyond Blue) and have been working closely with a Be You consultant throughout the year. The Staff Wellbeing Committee have been meeting fortnightly discussing a Whole School Approach to Wellbeing.

This includes the following areas:

- Mentally Healthy Communities

- Family Partnerships

- Learning Resilience

- Early Support

- Responding Together.

Our first area of priority is ‘Mentally Healthy Communities’. A child or young person’s ability to flourish can be greatly enhanced by a supportive, positive, mentally healthy community. It is fundamental for the whole community (families, students and staff) to understand what mental health is and why it is important for children and young people. This is crucial in enabling children and young people to achieve their best mental health now, and later in life.

Wellbeing Day

On Friday 14 August, please take the time to prioritise your wellbeing by taking part in activities that make you feel good.

Some suggestions from Be You to make yourself feel better:

You need to practice self-care in a way that works for you. It might include maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating well, getting enough exercise.

Some other strategies which you might find helpful in managing stress:

Monitor your stress – recognise your own signs of stress and identify situations you find difficult, so you can be pro-active about managing stress during these times.
Learn how to manage your stress in positive ways – such as through exercise, relaxation, breathing, yoga, positive self-talk.
Be aware of your thinking habits – challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts.
Schedule ‘time out’ for yourself – pursue your hobbies or interests.
Connect – foster and maintain your personal relationships. A sense of belonging and connection is important for your wellbeing.
Relax – learn and use breathing techniques, progressive relaxation, visualisations or meditation to consciously relax your mind and body. Practice mindfulness by focusing your awareness on the present moment.
Be mindful and self-aware – focus on how you are feeling and how you act, and the impact that can have on your colleagues and your students. Be supportive of others without passing judgement.
Consider making specific times or days of the week for activities which support your wellbeing, so they become routine and are less likely to drop off at times of increased work demands or other competing priorities.
Reflect – find a mentor through your workplace or professional networks to help you grow professionally. Take time to engage in reflective practices about your work and professional development.
If you have spiritual beliefs, make time for regular spiritual practice, or relationships with others who share your philosophy.

Ask for Support

If you feel that you aren’t travelling as well as you could, it’s important to reach out for support. Most of us wouldn’t try to treat a broken leg ourselves, but when it comes to our mental health we sometimes think we can fix things on our own, or hope the issue just goes away by itself. That’s where our support networks, mental health organisations and health professionals come in. There are plenty of effective treatments for mental health conditions and the sooner you seek support, the sooner you can recover. Reach out for support when you need it – from colleagues, friends, family, your GP, a psychologist, or an employee assistance program through your workplace or Beyond Blue.’

To raise awareness of the importance of Wellbeing and Mental Health, the following guest speakers have been organised for parents on the following dates:

Years 7-12 Parent Zoom Forum ‘Helping Young People to be Mentally Healthy’

Guest Speaker from The Black Dog Institute: Shannai
Date: Tuesday 11 August
Time: 7pm

Shannai is a 26 year-old student living in Sydney. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Behavioural Studies with plans to do a Masters in Social Work. Shannai is passionate about instigating change in the community through facilitating awareness. Shannai was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD at the age of 14 and is particularly passionate about helping youths as a result.

NB. A Zoom link to attend this forum will be emailed to families. Please be aware that Zoom has a maximum capacity of 300 people. The video will be uploaded to My Aitken. If there is a high demand, a further guest speaker may be organised.

Years Prep-6 Parent Zoom Forum ‘Building Capacity to Cope with Anxiety’

Guest Speaker from Deakin University: Glenn Melvin
Date: Tuesday 11 August
Time: 5pm

Glenn is an Associate Professor and clinical psychologist at the School of Psychology, Deakin University in Melbourne, and an honorary Associate Professor at the University of Warwick, UK. Glenn’s research aims to improve our understanding and response to common mental health challenges experienced by kids and teens including anxiety and depression. He also has undertaken a number of projects that aim to support students who are struggling with school attendance. Glenn is a practising psychologist who is passionate about sharing insights and strategies with parents and carers. He is on the Executive Committee of the recently formed International Network for School Attendance.

NB. A Zoom link to attend this forum will be emailed to families. Please be aware that Zoom has a maximum capacity of 300 people. The video will be uploaded to My Aitken. If there is a high demand, a further guest speaker may be organised.

Student Assemblies

A guest speaker from the Black Dog Institute has been arranged for Secondary students in their Assemblies on Monday 10 August. The topic of the presentation is ‘Mental Fitness’. The focus throughout August/September in Primary Assemblies will be Wellbeing, including emotional awareness and regulation.

Useful Links for Parents:

Staff Retirement

The College formally acknowledges the retirement of Mr Christopher Ward, Director of Chaplaincy and Student Services. Mr Ward served with the College for over 21 years, and is a founding member of the College. On behalf of the College, we wish Mr and Mrs Ward the best with their retirement.

Home Learning

In moving back to Home Learning for the whole school, I encourage students and families to engage not just in the learning but with the range of other activities on offer. Onsite supervision for children of permitted workers and vulnerable students will continue to be offered. Registration forms are available from admin@aitkencollege.edu.au.

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