Recently I took my kids to get a drink from the popular takeaway store, Boost. We had been walking around the shopping centre and all three of us were in need of a pick-me-up. The order was the same as it always is; we have found our favourites to include ‘Banana Buzz’, ‘King William Chocolate’ and ‘Raspberry Ripe’. If you’ve ever had a Boost, I’m sure you will have a favourite too.
As we waited, standing there amongst the small crowd of people, I noted that we were all there for the same thing; something to give ourselves a boost (pardon the pun). My mind wondered what drink they had ordered, what their day had been like and what things they do to help themselves feel better.
In chatting with various junior Secondary School students, they offered the following things that they themselves do, or have seen others do, to give themselves a boost:“Coffee; my parents drink this a lot.”
We all need a boost from time to time, it improves our overall feeling of happiness. Interestingly, mental health has been an increased focal point of research and discussion over the past decade, even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted society.
Improving our state of mental health is something that we all desire. In 2018, a study was published which looked at the cumulative health benefit effects of volunteering. The researchers found that: “Participation in voluntary services is significantly predictive of better mental and physical health, life satisfaction, self-esteem, happiness, lower depressive symptoms, psychological distress, and mortality and functional inability.” *
Looking beyond ourselves and doing things for others plays a large part of feeling good mentally. This fits beautifully with our school value of the week, ‘service’. To improve our state of mental health this coming week, let us look to “…serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13). If we all do that, what an amazing school and wider community we will live in.
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Mr Darren Martin
Assistant Head of Secondary: Teaching & Learning
* Yeung, Zhang and Kim, Volunteering and health benefits in general adults: cumulative effects and forms, 2018.
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