Today, we marked World Mental Health Day, a global initiative dedicated to education, awareness and advocacy around mental wellbeing. It serves as an important reminder of the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health for ourselves and others.
Throughout the week, the theme of mental health has been at the heart of our Chapel Services, led by our fantastic Head Chapel Wardens, Luca Hunt-Davis and Gabi Moran, alongside Deputy Head Chapel Warden, Kit Marsh, and the wider Chapel Warden team. Readings and prayers have focused on the importance of looking after our minds and supporting one another.
In Thursday’s Senior Service, Chapel Warden Amelie Delaney-Meinesz spoke powerfully about the challenges surrounding mental health and the importance of empathy and understanding. She said:
‘We live in a world where mental health is becoming more relevant and important. There are so many people who struggle and it’s such a huge community yet somehow, we still feel so alone.
When looking at statistics or graphs, it shows that over 8 million people in the UK suffer with some form of mental health problem, so why do we feel so alone?
Because in the moment, it feels so much easier to put a smile on your face and say everything is okay rather than trying to explain what is going on inside your head when you yourself don’t feel like you can figure it out. The worst part about it is that you’re seemingly required to have a breakdown for people to understand how hard you were trying to hold yourself together.
It takes a toll on your everyday life in many ways, and this may be friendships, relationships with significant others or family, as well as playing sport or keeping your work to a high standard in school. All these things feel 10 times harder when it’s a constant battle with your mind to get the little tasks done.
One more thing, I’d like to ask everyone to listen to the room around you.
That silence you felt. It’s not empty. It holds power. Silence is never nothingness, it never was. It’s full of confusing emotions which remain unexpressed. It is full of unspoken words and unresolved mysteries tangled like numerous threads in our heads. It is full of awkward madness beyond all limitations. Whether known or unknown being comfortable with silence is a rare art. Being comfortable with silence is where we untangle the threads from our past and use them to our advantage in the future.
So, the feeling of silence and loneliness isn’t always the worst thing, but it is just the way we choose to think about and react in different situations. It’s almost like asking for directions when you’re lost.
It just means you’re trying to find your way.’
To continue the conversation, pupils enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate at breaktime today, giving all an opportunity to pause, connect, and chat with friends and teachers.
