It is based on the principles of the ‘Act-Belong-Commit’ positive mental health and wellbeing campaign. Keeping active, alert and engaged with the world around us (Act), having a feeling of belonging and a sense of identity (Belong), and doing things that give meaning and purpose to life (Commit) all contribute to our overall wellbeing. Rosalie became a partner with Act-Belong-Commit in 2019. The school setting is ideal for the Act-Belong-Commit campaign as there are many opportunities for students to be active, develop a strong sense of belonging and add meaning and purpose to their lives.
Act-Belong-Commit’s Mentally Healthy Schools Program provides a framework to embed the Campaign within the whole school environment, to boost the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff and prevent the onset of mental health problems.
The Mentally Healthy Schools Program has made significant progress 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.
What does it mean to be mentally healthy?
It means that most of the time you feel good about yourself, good about what you do, and good about others. You enjoy the simple things in life, feel fairly optimistic about the future, and are interested in what’s going on in the world.
Being mentally healthy also means you are able to cope with the normal problems and tragedies that occur in life – usually with a little help from friends or relatives when things get really tough. Good friends make the good times better and the bad times tolerable.
In this busy day and age, it is more important than ever to do things to keep ourselves mentally healthy so we can enjoy life and cope with the demands and pressures of everyday living.
Most of the things we do to keep physically healthy are also good for our mental health like being physically active, eating a healthy diet, avoiding drugs and using alcohol in moderation.
But we can do much more for our mental health – and it’s as simple as A-B-C
Act: Keep physically, mentally, socially and spiritually active: take a walk, say g’day, read a book, do a crossword, dance, play cards, stop for a chat…
Belong: Join a book club, take a cooking class, be more involved in groups you are already a member of, go along to community events…
Commit: Take up a cause, help a neighbour, learn something new, set yourself a challenge, help out at the school or meals on wheels…
Being active, having a sense of belonging, and having a purpose in life all contribute to good mental health.
https://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/