World Mental Health Day 2021 celebrations

“Emotional pain is not something that should be hidden away and never spoken about. There is truth in your pain, there is growth in your pain, but only if it’s first brought out into the open.”

Every year, World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October. This day is marked by a particular theme, and this year the theme of World Mental Health Day 2021 is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’. This focuses on reducing the gap between people. A gap that is growing wider with time creating a great dearth of care for people with mental health problems.

The Indian School-Second Shift ovserved World Mental Health Awareness Week from 4th to 10th October, 2021.  The mornings began with a meditation session or prayer. Various activities were planned at different levels. 

Students of Pre school performed activities like ‘Laughter Song'..this exercise helps  turn a negative feeling into a positive one. Besides  laughing is good for our mental health. ‘Googily Eyes’ in another exercise which was undertaken for boosting concentration and lengthening the attention span in the kids.

The Pre Primary students had a storytelling session on kindness and mindful meditation followed by yoga to calm the mind and body. They also drew various emoticons related to the different kinds of feelings they have experienced.

In class 1, the students were taught to learn to be happy at all times for a better mind. Students created 'feeling frames' for their family members and gifted these to them. During these activities, the students reinforced the importance of sharing feelings. 

Class 2 students had a 'well-being breakfast' incorporating fruit and other healthy treats. The teachers explained the importance of a healthy breakfast for physical and mental wellbeing.

In class 3, students decorated their personal “Jars of Kindness.” The teachers spoke about kindness. They were asked to note down on a slip of paper, an act of kindness done by them during the day and collect these in a jar every day. 

During Mental Health Week, class 4 discussed how to take care of one's mental health just like one's physical health. They were shown videos on ways to manage stress followed by a meditation session. The students rediscovered and shared their favourite hobbies which help them overcome sadness or stress and thereby achieve mental stability.

In class 5, a short film on emotional well being and mental health was shown and was followed by a classroom discussion. The students were taught about self-awareness in an activity named ‘My Strengths and Qualities’ which taught them to analyse themselves.

In classes 6-8 students mad posters and e- posters on World Mental Health Day.

Students also participated in various events organised by the National Science Centre, like painting,  a mental health quiz and workshops related to mental health and wellness.

Our students enjoyed a week full of awareness and activities for better mental and emotional well being.