I always find Term 2 the most stressful term of the year and the busiest when it comes to student wellbeing. We have NAPLAN, end of unit assessment and preparation for semester examinations. Academic pressures increase and the time students have to complete these important tasks seems to evaporate as deadlines draw close. On top of this the weather gets cooler, and the days become shorter, and our immune systems start to run low.

Schools are stressful environments and the past two years have had a significant impact on mental health and student wellbeing. We need to teach students coping strategies to manage school stress in positive, healthy ways. We go to the gym to ensure our bodies are fit and healthy and manage what we eat to ensure our bodies are at optimum health. We need to put the same time and energy to care for our mental health.

For the next four weeks, Hume Anglican Grammar will be participating in Mindful in May.  Mindful in May is a global event which looks at improving mindfulness by completing a daily mindfulness practice. Every student in Years Prep – 12 will be participating in daily mindfulness activities which are between 2 – 5 minutes from mindful meditation to education about how mindfulness improves our lives.  Studies have shown that regularly practising mindfulness improves emotion regulation, mood, sleep habits and concentration. 

Mindfulness helps us bring awareness to our environment, our emotions and how we respond to the world around us. When students engage in a regular mindfulness practice it helps them bring awareness to their emotions and how they respond to stressful events. When brains are calm, students can deal with conflict and stress in more appropriate ways instead of being reactive to the environment around them. A calm brain also leads to better learning outcomes, improved behaviour, and happier students at school.

As the Director of Student Wellbeing, I feel it is important we discuss mental health and promote positive mental health when things are going right, instead of when we’re overwhelmed and not coping. Mindful in May will help us have the conversation with students Prep - Year 12 and show them we can promote positive mental health and develop positive coping strategies as we would going to the gym and eating healthy for our bodies.

Parents that are interested about mindfulness can learn more from Smiling Minds What is mindfulness? - YouTube  and Why do we need mindfulness and what are the benefits? - YouTube

Claire Thompson  - Director of Student Wellbeing