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SSS Corner: Mental Health Awareness Day 2019
Do you know that every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide?
This is why this year the WHO has decided to focus on "Suicide Prevention" as the theme for World Mental Health Day 2019 which is celebrated every year on October 10. According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Thus, mental health is considered as something important and a part of what makes us a completely healthy person.
In Global Jaya, we have always been conscious about various mental health issues that our students (and staff) have been experiencing, as well as providing support for those who need it. Having handled more cases of self-harm and suicide attempts these past few years, we are more and more concerned about our community’s mental health.
This year, on Tuesday, Oct 8 (13.00-15.00), the Student Support Service launched the "Mental Health Awareness" programme, which is a part of Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL). A series of activities had been put in place leading to that day. In Advisory classes, students were asked to answer surveys regarding mental health and to discuss it with their fellow classmates. The questions included “What types of mental health problem(s) have you experienced or heard of?” Each Advisory class also designed a poster to promote Mental Health.
After that, students were given the opportunity to attend a Workshop about Mental Health Awareness delivered by “Ubah Stigma”, which is a non-profit organisation that was founded by Global Jaya School’s alumni. Their vision is to raise awareness about mental health in general, educate the society about the importance of mental health, as well as being able to help people with mental illness to be heard, accepted and properly treated.
After the session, students were offered the chance to choose from various Coping with Stress classes. Here’s a snapshot of what they chose:
The sessions were designed by the SSS and led by the Counselors with the help of Secondary School teachers who have expertise and/or interest in a particular type of Coping with Stress strategy.
The feedback for the event was positive. Most students (over 70%) thought that both the Workshop and the Coping with Stress class were helpful and will actually continue applying the information and skills they acquired from the sessions.
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