A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we are meant to. We break. Brene Brown.
Children’s Mental Health week: Let’s Connect
Next week is the charity Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. Aimed at shining a spotlight on the mental health of young people, this themed week is now in its ninth year. Take some time to consider how far our understanding, yet the prevalence of concerns about young people’s mental health, has come since 2015. Whilst the statistics are raw, the openness of our discussions are increasing.
The theme, Let’s Connect, serves as a reminder of the importance that everyone, young and old, need a sense of belonging for our wellbeing and survival: alongside food and water, this is a basic need for us all. Building meaningful connections with those closest to us, our peers and communities, and to the wider world around us, is a crucial ingredient to developing a sense of flourishing and heightened wellbeing.
The term wellbeing is now part of our everyday language, so much so that I feel we are losing our own autonomy to own our wellbeing. Alongside enabling the right environment, support mechanisms and love for everyone to flourish, I believe very strongly that the responsibility for our wellbeing rests with us. For children, this means this year's theme Let's Connect has never been so important. Enabling our young people to feel the strength of their connection - to themselves and their authenticity; those around them; their place within the world; and, as important as the others, to be a force for good in their world - is such a vital part of the wider wellbeing puzzle. And, unlike removing unnecessary pressures (such as relentless exams and testing - I could go on....), enabling support networks, educating about societal, social media and technological dangers, building connections is something that we have total ownership over.
There's an excellent movement called The Action for Happiness. I encourage you to spend some time looking at their website, and in particular, their GREAT DREAM acronym:
GREAT DREAM is a ten step action plan for us all to consider, and I believe relates to connection in a very powerful way. It combines the importance of both inner (self) and outer connections.
You can download the posters from the Action for Happiness website. It can be a really useful visual reminder for your children.
We will be marking Children's Mental Health week in a number of ways this week:
- On Monday morning, our Head of Mental Health, Ally Onions, will lead our Prep School Assembly alongside Gaelle Stark-Ordish. Together with Alex Hepburn (our Pre-Prep MindUp Coordinator), they will launch our whole-school activity which will be to create a humungous paper-chain, to demonstrate the power of that unbreakable bond that can exist between us all. A bond made up of love, compassion, thoughtfulness, authenticity and a genuine desire to look out for the needs of others.
- Parents are warmly invited to join Ally for a wellbeing and mental health coffee and chat, from 8.00am on Wednesday morning. Ally has a wealth of resources which she can share with you as well as discussing your thoughts and concerns around mental health.
- The wider theme of connection will be a central theme throughout the week.
We will be featuring a different part of GREAT DREAM each day next week, in the form of videos, podcasts and short articles. These will be made available on our website.
Not every connection with someone else will be positive - this is life. However, when we are able to develop and sustain a strong understanding that connection means:
- We connect with ourselves: we are aware of our own needs by nourishing our bodies and minds: exercise, fresh air, hobbies, time-out when needed, balance in our lives.
- We find energisers: which external connections (friends and positive influencers) feeds our mood and energy levels? Seek those ahead of negative influencers.
- We seek to find connection in the world around us: whether this be nature or getting an 'urban-fix'. We understand how we fit in the world around us.
- We give back: research concludes that giving releases more endorphins (happy hormones) than anything else. Being a force for good, whether through localised acts of kindness or a more structured approach, provides a powerful connection.
- Above all else, we acknowledge that our connection is unique and special. We are not trying to be someone else, and, amidst the pressures to conform, we are comfortable with who we are.
None of this is easy all of the time, but these five traits of connection are controlled by us as an individual.
True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world. True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are. Brene Brown.
Wishing you all a very happy weekend.
William