Mental Health Month 2023 – Wellbeing In Schools

May is Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. The theme of Mental Health Month 2023 is ‘Rebuilding Our Resilience’, emphasising the importance of building resilience and coping skills to help us navigate life’s challenges. 

 

Promoting a healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally, is something we practise day in and day out here at Ultimate Kids and we know that physical activity can have a significant positive impact on our mental health. Looking at building resilience specifically, sports is all about bouncing back from stepbacks, so these two topics go hand in hand. 

 

Participating in sports comes with a number of obstacles, such as injuries, defeats, and failures, which require them to develop mental toughness and determination. Through sports, individuals can learn how to cope with disappointment, overcome obstacles, and develop a growth mindset. Participants who persevere through these challenges and setbacks can become more resilient, improving their overall mental health and wellbeing. Moreover, sports provide a supportive and encouraging environment where individuals can learn teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, all of which contribute to building resilience – just as touched on in Coach Liams previous blog post on how dodgeball builds resilience. By engaging in sports, individuals can cultivate the qualities and skills necessary to overcome adversity, cope with stress, and succeed in various aspects of life.

 

Wellbeing in Schools

On a daily basis, our coaches deliver sessions in both schools and nurseries where we’d like to raise the awareness of wellbeing in an educational environment. Schools for example play a crucial role in shaping the physical and mental health of children, and promoting wellbeing should be a priority for all educators. It’s not just about playing a sporting game, it’s about providing opportunities for children to win, to lose, to learn and develop. Just to name a few, dodgeball is brilliant for building resilience, football is brilliant for developing teamwork skills and yoga is brilliant for relaxation and dealing with stress or anxiety. But wellbeing in schools should not solely focus on the children. Staff wellbeing should be highlighted also. 

In addition to our PE and school sports services, we also offer teacher fitness programs. Teacher wellbeing is just as important as student wellbeing, and we believe that supporting teachers’ physical and mental health is essential. Our teacher fitness programs provide opportunities for teachers to engage in physical activity and prioritise their wellbeing, leading to a more positive and supportive school environment. This can involve keep fit sessions to get the heart racing or yoga and pilates to indulge in a moment of relaxation. If this is something you would be interested in for your place of work (schools and any other work place) then please get in touch! 

 

Supporting Mental Health through Sports

Sports can have a powerful impact on mental health, providing a sense of achievement, camaraderie, and purpose. By participating in sports and physical activity, individuals can improve their mental health and wellbeing. For example, our Ultimate Kids sports sessions will always promote teamwork and collaboration, helping individuals develop social connections that can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Alongside this, personal progression is always encouraged to push personal records, recognise self improvement and experience a sense of confidence and honour. 

 

Ever heard of the happy hormone? Well this is released when engaging in sports. When you participate in sports, you release a happy hormone called endorphins – enhancing your mood, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving your overall sense of happiness. Endorphins are neurotransmitters produced in the brain that activate the body’s opiate receptors, leading to feelings of happiness, euphoria, and well-being. It’s science! Sports is a massive factor in supporting mental health and can improve your mood massively. 

 

Overall, Mental Health Week 2023 is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues and promote wellbeing. For us, we will be continuing to practise wellbeing through sports in every single one of our sessions and camps this month as well as developing our wellness packages for schools to get involved with. We truly do believe that promoting physical activity and sports is an effective tool for supporting mental health and wellbeing. Through our PE and school sports services and teacher fitness programs, we aim to support the physical and mental health of students and teachers alike. Just remember that it’s not selfish to prioritise your mental health, it’s essential!