The Heaviest Burdens

Dear all,

Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2024, and we must recognise that members of our school community are not immune to the detrimental factors that lead to poor mental health. In fact, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people in the UK experience a mental health problem.

The wonderful charity, Mental Health UK, is working hard with schools and young people to develop a toolkit for people to use when faced with a breakdown of mental health and for tackling anxiety. This year’s theme as set by the Mental Health Foundation is ‘Movement: moving for our mental health’; the commonly held view is that exercise and being outdoors can lead to significant boosts in endorphin levels and improved personal wellbeing. Our pupils are all active, and our sports and outdoor education programmes help them to exercise and to be outside and more in tune with nature.

I have no desire to come across as sanctimonious in these matters, but the thought-provoking Buddhist phrase,

The heaviest burden that we carry are the thoughts within our head.

seems to perfectly summarise what can be described as depression and anxiety. The wonderfully evocative image which accompanies the Budhist saying acts as a reminder to us all that we cannot allow our thoughts to overburden us.

Next week, our oldest pupils will be performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, and I have no doubt that, despite the nerves of the children (and their parents), the mental health of us all will be in a better place for seeing the children perform with such energy and joy.

Jason Whiskerd