Mental Health Awareness Week

This week has been Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is Kindness. Considerable research has shown that being kind has a positive impact on our own mental well-being.

The Year 12 Psychology students investigated this research and then looked at how they could be kind at DLD College London.

According to the AIFC Engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphin, the brain’s natural pain killer. Furthermore, it increases Serotonin which helps against anxiety. Witnessing acts of kindness produce oxytocin often referred to as the ‘love hormone’ which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving overall heart health. Oxytocin also increases our self-esteem and optimism, which is extra helpful when we are anxious and perhaps even more so now, during this unusual time. According to Lauren Miller several scientific studies indicate random acts of kindness increase energy levels and strengthen the immune system. These are just a few of the benefits of kindness.

We discussed what kind of random acts of kindness we could show.  Some of our ideas were:

• Greeting the security guards when entering
• Help teachers with displays and on Open days
• If you find something interesting on the internet related to your subject (Psychology) share it with your teacher and/or class.
• Write thank you notes. This led to an interesting discussion as to whether students would prefer a note or chocolate as thanks. They surprised me when they said ‘a note’ as it is more personal and takes time. ‘Anyone can buy a chocolate’. They hastened to add, however, neither should be an expectation.
• Ask a teacher how he or she is doing.
• Open a door for someone if you see they are carrying thing.
• Try to be bubbly around people as it is catch and motivates them.
• Check on friends on a regular basis even if you do not have time to see them or they live abroad.
• Take someone out to lunch just to show you appreciate them

And so much more ……..

Finally, this week we emphasised kindness and did some research. We believe:

Highlighting Kindness Today, Living it Every Day.

Jan Winnick, Subject Lead Psychology