HELPING KIDS STAY HEALTHY DURING COVID-19

Tristan from Churchlands Senior High School receiving his certificate and prize for winning his category Years 7-9 in the Mindful May Colouring Competition

While the COVID-19 crisis is putting a strain on people across the community, the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation is providing specific support for a program aimed at younger people.

The Act-Belong-Commit Mentally Healthy Schools Program is helping to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health.

Coordinated by a team from Mentally Healthy WA at Curtin University, the Program is available to all schools throughout WA with engaging activities for students, staff and the whole school community to boost mental health and wellbeing.

Director of Act-Belong-Commit campaign, Associate Professor Christina Pollard, said the program has made significant inroads in encouraging young people to talk about mental health, in reducing stigma around mental illness and in increasing staff and student participation in mentally healthy activities.

School Health Promotion Coordinator Phoebe Joyce said, “Teaching mentally healthy behaviours early in life helps to increase confidence, resilience and self-esteem and reduce the chances of a young person developing mental health problems when they are older.

“Keeping physically active, having good friends, helping others and learning new things not only builds self-esteem and confidence, but can reduce stress and help with academic outcomes,” Phoebe said.

The Program’s recent Mindful May Colouring Competition received almost 200 entries from 20 different schools throughout WA.

“The competition provided schools with an easy way to positively engage students in the Act-Belong-Commit message, particularly during a difficult beginning to 2020,” Phoebe said.

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North Lake Senior Campus students getting involved in Act-Belong-Commit activities at their R U Ok? Day event

Wyalkatchem District High School celebrating the Act-Belong-Commit message