Mental wellbeing is how we respond to life’s ups and downs and has a deeper meaning and implication in our lives. It includes how a person thinks, handles emotions and responds to relationships. 

Mental wellbeing is such a vital part of our overall health. Unfortunately society still sees the term 'health' as something biological and physical, such as the condition of our bodies, how healthy we eat, the physical exercise we do, illness and injury. But a key component of health is missing from this, our mental wellbeing, which actually encompasses our inner workings and the way we navigate our way through life. 

 

In general, mental wellbeing is how we flourish in areas of life such as at school, all relationships, work, play, and more, despite ups and downs.

 It is the knowledge that we are separate from our problems and we are not the problems and our beliefs of how we can handle those problems.

 

It is often dealing with life problems that shapes our mental health and wellbeing in a more positive manner. Just as a broken bone is stronger after healing, so too, can your mental wellbeing each time you face and deal with difficulties.

 

There are many skills we can develop and practice to help improve our mental wellbeing:

*Self-acceptance

*A sense of belonging in social groups with self-confidence 

*Knowing, accepting and using our unique character strengths

*Understanding that our thoughts are just thoughts and not fact

*A longing for continued growth

*Emotional resilience through difficult times

*Having and pursuing interests

*Maintaining emotionally healthy relationships

*A positive mindset knowing that things can improve

*Happiness that comes from within rather than seeking external validation

*A sense of determination

 

All of these skills can be learnt through the various tasks in our workshops and aim to help improve a child's perception of the world around them changing their mindset for a more positive outlook. The teacher training will also provided an insight into their own mindset and how making positive changes in the way they use language will also have a positive effect not only on themselves but on the children the teach too.