Mental Health Awareness Week

We have many support teams here at The Beacon, who collaborate to make a real difference to everyone within our Beacon Community. In light of Mental Health Awareness week this week, we would like to particularly thank our W (Wellbeing) Team. This dedicated group work all year round on a range of creative projects focused on nurturing our community’s mental and physical health. From mentoring programs to mindful gardening clubs, their work makes a huge difference to our boys’ wellbeing.

While it is always extremely valuable to raise awareness around looking after our mental health through initiatives such as this week’s national Mental Health Awareness Week, it is vital that an open dialogue and dedication to self-care and wellbeing is an all-year round effort.

The focus for this Mental Health Awareness Week is connecting with nature, something we are extremely passionate about at The Beacon. Our Learning Outside the Classroom sessions take place all year round in our grounds and nearby woodlands and Mrs Rowland’s Kitchen Garden seems to go from strength to strength with the help of our devoted team of pupil gardeners.

Mr Phelps spoke with the boys this week in Assembly about the importance of taking good care of their pets – a great way for them to connect with and appreciate this incredible natural world around them all year round. Boys throughout the School have also taken part in various mindful and nature-related activities. They have been encouraged to have open conversations about mental health and the ways in which we can take care of both our own mental wellbeing and the natural environment around us.

In Year 4, boys have been discussing their experiences with nature and their feelings surrounded this. They have carried out daily ‘mindful’ exercises, where they listened to sounds of nature whilst taking a moment to reflect and appreciate the things they are most grateful for. They carried out this exercise with and without listening to sounds of nature, and the boys commented that they prefered hearing nature sounds because it made them feel more relaxed. Our Year 2 boys enjoyed their Outdoor Learning sessions this week, where there was a real emphasis on how we can and should connect with nature. The boys walked up to Willsfield and took time to appreciate their natural surroundings.

For more ideas of how you and your family can look after your mental health by connecting with nature, please click here.

We hope you enjoy the gallery below of our boys taking time this week to connect with nature.