World Mental Health Day at The Oratory
"World Mental Health Day takes place on the 10th of October every year and provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect on how we care for and take responsibility for our own mental health and how we can further raise our awareness and show support for those around us who are struggling...
This year’s global theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is ‘Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies’ to reflect the unique challenges and uncertainties in the world right now. This day is a way of acknowledging the pressures of the current times, while highlighting the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Everyone goes through difficult times, and today more than ever, people in every walk of life are facing increasing pressures.
Mental health is an essential part of our overall health, and even more so in the most difficult of times and circumstances. We have a unique opportunity in a school to make a positive difference in every connection we have through the day. Our mental health is more than a small part of our lives. Its every moment of every day and we should make the most of every moment.
I have attached a poem on 'Listening' below. I read it often to remind myself how important it is for children and young people to feel heard and understood and how this can positively impact all aspects of their mental health."
Kerry Hulbert, School Counsellor
LISTENING...by a young person
When I ask you to listen to me and
you start giving me advice, you have
not done what I asked.
When I ask you to listen to me and you
begin to tell me why
I shouldn’t feel that way
you are trampling on my feelings.
When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do something
to solve my problem,
you have failed me,
strange as that may seem.
When you do something for me that I can
and need to do for myself
you contribute to my fear and
inadequacy.
But when you accept as a simple fact
that I feel what I feel,
no matter how irrational,
then I can stop trying to convince you
and get about this business
of understanding what’s behind
this irrational feeling.
And when that’s clear, the answers are
obvious and I don’t need advice.
Irrational feelings make sense when
we understand what’s behind them.
So please listen and just hear me.
And if you want to talk, wait a minute
for your turn – and I will listen to you.
Poem by Esher Usiskin Cohen 2016 Family Psychotherapist
More resources which may help can be found here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day