Page 17 - Autumn 2019 Echo draft v4

Human Science 15

Mental health Awareness
This term we are ensuring that Mental health Awareness continues to be of a high profile amongst students
and staff. We are raising awareness by talking more about mental health and encouraging staff and students
to look after their emotional wellbeing. A major theme this year, is positive relationships and we are trying to
make sure that we all think about how our relationships both in and out of College affect our mental health.
Another key element is Mindfulness, our CPShe lessons are often starting with a small mindfulness activity to
empty our minds and focus.
In preparation for Mental health Awareness week, the Wellbeing Ambassadors presented an assembly about
Mental health to all of the Year groups. The Wellbeing hub is now open and all are welcome to pop in for a
chat and a biscuit. The ambassadors in the hub have been trained in the basics of coaching and are ready to
help with small worries and anxieties.
We hope that all of these activities will help raise awareness of Mental health and reduce the stigma around
such issues. We are encouraging students and staff to believe in ourselves, and to try our best and have pride
in everything that we do. We are here to support and encourage each other and in doing so we are polite
and respectful of differences: we are embracing diversity.

Mental health within Rugby Stonewall Award

In November, Wellbeing Ambassadors met Aron Struminski from the Ivybridge Community College is
exeter Chiefs Community Department. They discussed Mental delighted to have received the
health issues within the rugby community. As well as the stigma that Stonewall School Champion Award in
surrounds rugby players claiming that they should not show ‘mental recognition of the College’s
weaknesses’, it is also important to avoid the ‘boys don’t cry’ committment to championing diversity
mentality, and to be open about mental health without the fear of and celebrating difference.
weakness.

They also discussed ‘Movember’, and he remarked that many rugby

players grow a moustache in support, but don’t always understand

the meaning behind it. Aron said, “It is the media’s responsibility to

promote mental health, and that if the mainstream media was

more positive and open about mental health, instead of trying to

make stories as dramatic and tragic as possible to sell more copies.”

Finally, they discussed the lgBTQ+ community within rugby; Aron

described the story of Nigel owens, the referee, coming out to his

peers. Aron said he believes

at exeter Chiefs that there

would be no homophobia

towards a rugby player

coming out as gay.