In his blog today Mr Shoffren talks about Mental Health Awareness week. The theme for the week is kindness and below are some resources to help you think about kindness, along with some ideas from Miss Rosehill about the importance of kindness for us at this time. 

If you design or do anything for the week, please remember to share a phot with your class teacher. 
Shavua tov - best wishes for the week!

Mental Health Awareness Week 2020

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on the power and potential of kindness. Not only is this theme akin to our Alma ethos, but many people are suggesting that kindness, along with positive mental health, are going to be central to us recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Why kindness? 

The Mental Health Foundation have chosen kindness because of its ability to unlock our shared humanity. Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity. It is a cornerstone of our individual and collective mental health and underpins all that we do at Alma Primary. Wisdom from every culture across history recognises that kindness is something that all human beings need to experience and practise to be fully alive. 

Celebrating kindness

Lockdown has presented us with many challenges. Many people have found it incredibly difficult, challenging and heartbreaking; others have grown, developed and taken it as a time to appreciate the pure goodness in the world. So much kindness is already flowering at this time through the devoted key workers keeping our world afloat, the furloughed people in society volunteering to take meals on wheels, support the elderly and comfort the vulnerable. We have seen it through the dancing eyes of 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore as he walked his garden to raise money for the NHS and in the mutual aid groups responding to local needs. The Mental Health Foundation want that kindness to spread further in every community in the UK and support a society, which emerges from this coronavirus pandemic with greater love and kindness in their hearts.

Kindness and Mental Health 

Kindness is defined by doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference.  The Mental Health Foundation know from the research that kindness and our mental health are deeply connected. The research shows that kindness is a remedy to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem.  Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.

A kinder society? 

We have a once in a generation opportunity not only during but also following this pandemic for a reset and re-think about what kind of society we want to emerge from this crisis.