Kolbe Mental Health Week and RUOK? Day

In the last week of term three Kolbe celebrated Mental Health Week. The theme for this year was kindness and this was celebrated and recognised in combination with RUOK? Day on Thursday 14th September. The week allowed staff and students the opportunity to reflect on how we can show kindness toward each other, our communities and ourselves and the ways in which kindness supports our mental health and wellbeing. It also reminded us to check in with our loved ones and consider how we can support them in difficult times.

Throughout the week students participated in a range of activities at lunchtime including karaoke, a dream catcher art activity, a staff vs student volleyball game, screening of My Neighbour Totoro, a walk for mental health awareness and chatting at the conversation corner. These activities allowed the staff and students to come together and experience connection and kindness in our community.

Inspired by the work of the Kindness Factory, Kolbe also ran its very own Kindness Tally for the week. The Kindness Factory is a not for profit organisation created by former elite cricketer, Kath Koschel, and encourages people to show kindness to themselves and others. Scientific research highlights the capacity for kindness to boost the immune system by relaxing the nervous system and guiding it into rest, essentially acting as an opposite to stress. In this way, kindness is seen to be protective against mental ill health and physical ill health. As of September 2023, over 6 million worldwide acts of kindness have been logged via the kindness factory. During the week staff and students were able to log their own acts of kindness through Kolbe’s Kindness Tally. These were shared and followed throughout the week in PC and prizes were awarded for those able to log the most acts of kindness.

We thank the staff and students for their participation during the week and highlighting the importance of showing kindness to others and checking in with those around us.

The Wellbeing Team