This October 10 marks the 25th anniversary of World Mental Health Day (WMHD). We all have a mental health, and just like our physical health, we have to work towards mental wellness. Life is full of ups and downs, and everyone will face difficult and stressful situations. By developing strong relationships with people that can support us, and learning more healthy coping skills we can build good mental health one step at a time. This in turn helps us through life’s difficult times. For more info, check out our section on Coping.
This year’s theme for WMHD is Mental Health in the workplace. Feeling mentally well at work (and don’t forget going to school totally counts as work!) increases our productivity, makes us miss or skip less and all around makes us feel better about ourselves and those around us. Having a healthy school environment starts with building support between our peers and school staff.
You can start by talking with your teacher or school guidance counselor about starting stress reduction activities or health days. You could start or join a wellness club that organizes special events for school. Many students and schools have also started to work mindfulness into their daily routine. Mindfulness activities have been shown to help ground people and reduce stress. They include things like deep breathing and meditation. While the word mindfulness is a newer Western term, it’s actually been adapted from South and East Asian practices including Taoism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
If you or your school wants to learn more check out the Calm in the Storm App or talk with someone at Klinic Community Health.