15 SEP 2021 Mental Health Week

Last week Kolbe Catholic College promoted Mental Health Week, where students, teachers and parents were able to engage in various wellbeing activities. The focus for the week was on looking after yourself in lockdown through the use of self-care strategies. As part of the week the College also celebrated the nationwide RUOK? Day on Thursday the 9th of September. The theme for RUOK? Day this year was: are they really okay, ask them today. Students and staff collaborated in making an RUOK? Day message to share with students and the wider school community.

As part of the week students completed an individualised self-care plan where they addressed physical, emotional, academic, social and spiritual facets of self-care. Students also had the option to participate in activities at lunch and after school where they could engage in different self-care hobbies, try new things and connect with staff and peers. Activities included: cake decorating, pet show and tell, exercise classes, trivia, drawing and meditation.

Parents were invited to participate in the week through daily communication of resources and activities that allowed students to further unpack their learning at home. Parents received resources on self-care strategies for their family and how to support a healthy headspace in young people.

Focusing on staff wellbeing is also important for supporting mentally healthy school communities and building positive teacher and student relationships. Staff were encouraged to reflect on their own mental health and self-care throughout the week through involvement in step challenges, teaching and working outside, engaging with other staff members and taking stock of their experiences of remote learning and lockdown. In addition to Mental Health Week, staff recognised the national Women’s Health Week campaign which aimed to raise awareness of issues impacting women’s health and to promote healthier choices.

We would like to thank all the staff, students and parents involved in mental health week and women’s health week.

Feedback from staff and students:

“Teachers genuinely care about our mental health and all the activities that were run were really great. I hope for future mental health weeks that students can run activities as well as teachers. Mental health week is not just for students but for staff too.” - Chantelle Sadiq, Year 11 wellbeing leader.

“Mental health week was a great experience for teachers and students alike. It brought alone many different activities and taught students how to cope with many different social and personal situations happening around them. It had many different forms of teaching with daily reminders in mornings, lunchtime and after school activities, and pastoral care videos being only a few of the options available to students. It would be great if some more games could be run in the future for students, to get students invested and excited” - Alexander Grech, Year 9 wellbeing leader

“The cake decorating presentation was enjoyable for all staff and students that did join in during mental health week. It allowed us to think about something else other than COVID and remote learning. It was an opportunity to learn some new skills and to network for a short period of time. It was also a great example of applied learning and they could now take these new skills and decorate their own cakes in the future. A great way to chill out and have some fun with the family.” - Rose Tassone, Learning Leader (VCAL)

Jayme Sugameli
The Wellbeing Team