PUBLISHED 01 February 2023
As part of our committment to wellbeing across our community, each week Mandy Briggs, Year 4 teacher and PSHE and Wellbeing Co-ordinator for Prep School, sends 'Wellness Wednesday' messages to staff via the aptly named, 'Mandy's Musings'. Today's message encourages us to talk...
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Tomorrow (February 2nd) is 'TIME TO TALK DAY' which draws attention to our mental health and the importance of reaching out to others. The aim of the day is for us to be honest and open up about our personal struggles.
Daunting? Yes.
Necessary? Yes.
Without fear and stigma? Certainly.
Just for one day? No (just like we talk about our physical health it is also important to talk about our mental health).
It is a time for all of us to come together to talk, listen and change lives.
Do we talk enough?
Do we talk about the right 'stuff'?
How do we change a conversation from how is your day to how are you actually feeling and have an honest conversation.
I find the most helpful conversations at work happen when someone asks how things are going because you always naturally have a conversation with that person/ people, or a conversation starts when you have a few minutes break/ lunchtime and leads to you talking about other things.
I also find it best if you are happy to tell your own story to others. Here goes mine... I think I am a very strong person, but I struggle a lot too. I worry that my sons might get hurt, I worry I will forget to turn something off (have been known to go back and check), I worry about getting through the day and get all my jobs done and not get too tired, I worry about my health as I have a few different ailments at the moment.
Remember every conversation matters. Let's make sure 'our community' is one where we are 'supportive' of each other.
Attached is this month's Wellness Calendar for February which is titled 'Friendly February'.
Have a good week and keep talking.
Mandy Briggs, Year 4 teacher and PSHE and Wellbeing Co-ordinator for Prep School
Additional information: more information about Time to Talk Day can be found here.