Mental health prioritised at Dalpark Independent School
From stress balls to burn-and-let-go sessions, learners took part in a full day of education, support, and emotional expression.
Grade seven to 10 learners at Dalpark Independent School took a stand for mental well-being during a hands-on, awareness-raising event focused on stress, bullying, and emotional resilience.
The Manage My Mental Health event, held at the school on Tuesday, was arranged by Cheree Kotze.
Kotze, the senior phase head of department at the school, believes mental health awareness in schools is crucial for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where learners can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
She explained it helps reduce stigma, improve academic performance, promote healthy relationships, and build resilience, ultimately contributing to overall learner well-being and success.
“I have noticed over the years that two things, namely stress management and bullying, affect the mental health of children tremendously,” said Kotze, who is also an Afrikaans educator at the school.
“Mental health is also rapidly becoming a big issue in the world.”
She told the Brakpan Herald that she has witnessed children, as young as those in Grade Seven, struggling.
“When you teach and see these children every day, you definitely notice. Bullying also affects mental health, and I don’t think children event realise they are doing it.
“It can be as easy as making a comment to a friend. There are also stigmas around mental health. Children tend to think it means someone is crazy, and they don’t actually realise what it is.
“Stress management is also important. We have seen how stress affects learners during exams, and they don’t know what it is or how to deal with it,” she said.
Kotze put together the event in order to educate learners, as well as engage them in an interesting manner, while offering support and guidance for issues they might be experiencing.
“I also feel that we need to educate the community about the importance of managing your mental health and educate them on what it really entails,” Kotze said.
“It is also one of my aims to eliminate the stigmas surrounding mental health.”
The day was filled with education, fun activities and a visit by a counsellor.
Almost 150 learners participated and the activities included:
• Emotional scale to determine where everyone is emotionally at that specific point in time
• Breathing exercises to manage stress and calm anxiety
• Mental health presentation
• Bullying presentation
• Group sessions where the following discussions took place: what is stress, what happens when we stress and how do we manage it? Learners also made stress balls.
There was also counselling sessions for those who wanted to participate, as well as a skit on mental health. The day was concluded with a Let go session, where learners wrote on a piece of paper about the issues they have been keeping to themselves that are hurting them.
They then placed that piece of paper in a fire to burn and “let go”. There was also an emotional scale done again to see the effect of the activities at the end of the day.
“Even if we just help one child today, then we have done a good job,” said Kotze.
Melanie Deacon, a specialist wellness counsellor from Johannesburg, spoke to the children about bullying. She was also available for counselling sessions for any of the learners who wanted to engage with her.
As for everyday awareness on mental health at the school, a mental health notice board has been erected in the middle of the premises.
This board has useful tips and information on mental health, stress and bullying. The board will be updated every month.
Learners can also write notes and suggestions where needed, and can remain anonymous. School principal Brandon Broderick welcomed the initiative.
“Mental health awareness has always been overlooked. And with today’s pace of society, it is important. When I was younger, my biggest worry was a cricket bat and ball, or my bicycle. Nowadays, children are subjected to a different life.
“There’s also social media, and the children have been pushed to a different area where the pressure is so much more. The expectations have shifted.
“They need to know that they’re allowed to be frustrated, sad or upset. It is vital, however, to have the right coping mechanisms in place such as talking to the right people,” he said.
The Brakpan Herald asked learners at Dalpark Independent School why they think it’s important to prioritise mental health.
