Stress Awareness Week 2022 (7th-11th November) is an annual event focusing on stress management and campaigning against the stigma associated with stress and mental health issues.
HeadStart delivered a staff wellbeing session focused on stress awareness to staff at Corpus Christi RC Primary School. We often hear ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ and ‘put your own oxygen mask on first’ but how often do we practice this? Staff wellbeing is an integral part of our whole school approach supporting good emotional wellbeing across whole school communities.
The stress awareness session includes:
- Our body’s natural stress response
- The physiological and psychological effects of stress
- Stress behaviours – the signs and symptoms of stress
- Managing your stress (stress buckets)
- Healthy and unhealthy coping strategies
- Useful resource links
A member of staff commented:
“I was at the staff meeting and loved it. I found that I knew most of the things that were being said but found it so important to hear someone say it again- it really made me reflect on my life at the moment and decide what I need to do going forwards.”
“I also found it quite therapeutic to hear that others are stressed too, about similar things, so that was a lovely aspect; the open forum/ discussion of feelings and strategies to de-stress. “
“Thank you very much for the session!”
HeadStart also delivered a pupil assembly within Bankfields Primary School. Many children are facing stresses and pressure in their day. During the assembly, the pupils recognised how stress can be normal and how listening and understanding their emotions can enable them to recognise when stress is harmful. All feelings are valid and learning to understand how we feel, while knowing it is OK to feel this way, is an important lesson for us all. A pupil within the assembly shared how we would look after our pet; care for it, feed it, give it water, love it and walk it, and then said how we should look after ourselves in the same way, with the same love and care.
Looking after our own wellbeing helps us all manage our stress and emotions. Take time over the next week to fit in some self-care.
Published: November 14