The St Martin’s life orientation teachers, Mrs Barlett and Mr Venter, compiled a programme to create awareness among teenagers about mental health for Mental Health March.
Some of these activities included mirrorless Mondays where students were encouraged to see themselves as more than just their external image. Fitness Friday sessions were held that consisted of short 30-minute workouts where students and staff participated in the sporting activity of their choice
Exercise helps to improve mental health by reducing a person’s stress hormone levels and increasing happy or feel-good hormone levels. Exercise and team sport helps to elevate low self-esteem and lessen social withdrawal.
Students and staff could choose to run with their hearts, tackle their emotions, let’s play ball, yoga flow, dance party and weight your turn.
A guest speaker, Rayanna Hassim, an educational psychologist addressed students in an assembly and helped students in the high schools to become aware of their stress triggers and gave advice on how to overcome these triggers through self-regulation.
The final activity for Mental Health March was art for the heart where various stations were set up on campus for students to sing for their souls, play the joyful djembe drums, do heart art, create a mindful mosaic and return to their inner child.
