Victoria University Secondary College held a Be Well, Stay Well day for its year seven, eight and nine year students last Tuesday, promoting health and wellbeing.
Health professionals including Black Dog AIS Mental Fitness Program, Mental Wellness (Melbourne Mission), Elephant Ed, Health Care Pathways and Party Safe visited the school as part of the day, while VUSC’s mental practitioner Siobhan Nayland ran a number of sessions for students.
Principal Elaine Hazim said the day aimed to help students better understand mental health and how to access support services.
“The aim of the event was to enable our students to develop the social and emotional skills to grow into happy, respectful, well-balanced, and successful members of the school and wider school community,” she said.
Ms Hazim said students learnt about a range of different topics such as sleep hygiene, eating and exercise, mental fitness, mindfulness and relaxation, online safety, making smart choices and positive risk taking, health care pathways, emotional literacy and safe gaming.
Ms Hazim said the day could help students to deal with challenges in future.
“Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Mental Health is a state of wellbeing where students can meet their learning potential, cope with normal school stresses, and are connected to their friends and wider community,” she said.
“Mental health and academic achievement can also powerfully impact one another. Strong overall mental fitness, well-being, and resiliency positively impacts students’ school performance. If a student feels adequately supported and successful in school, then this improves their self-esteem, emotional health, and academic results.”
Max Hatzoglou
