Talking About Mental Health December: FOCUS ON EMPATHY
Earlier this year, we introduced students, staff and community members to The Umbrella Project. The Umbrella Project, founded by Dr. Jen Forristal, features monthly themes, activities and curriculum links to support students and staff as they focus on wellness.
Last month, students and staff focused on gratitude as their Umbrella skill and this month, we will focus on empathy.
Empathy is about being able to consider what someone else may be going through and imagining how they might be feeling or thinking. Empathy is often the first step toward compassionate action and helping others.
The month of December is a great time to practice empathy as so many people are celebrating various holidays, many of which will be different this year due to the global pandemic.
Empathy is important because when we have it, we are more likely to treat others with compassion and can better understand the needs of the people around us.
This month, practice your empathy Umbrella skill by:
- Helping younger children understand how to recognize emotions so they are better able to understand how others may be feeling. You can do this by drawing “feeling faces” or take turns role-playing different emotions
- Encourage your child/ren or students to consider how others may experience certain situations
- Think about how the global pandemic may be affecting people in your community as we approach the holiday season. Write a letter or send a card to a neighbour or friend, who may be alone or separated from their loved ones over the holidays
- December is a great month to make a donation or contribution to a local charity or food bank and then discuss with your family or class how this contribution (big or small) will impact the lives of others
HOLIDAY “CONNECTING & REFLECTING” IDEAS:
23 Days of Giving
Every day in December have everyone put something that they don’t use or need into a basket. Later in the month you can go as a family and donate to a shelter or community center.
Reflection Wall
Have a wall in the house where everyone can add sticky notes of what they are grateful about from the year. Focus on lessons learned, new skills and strategies used throughout the year.
Getting help
If you, your child/youth or someone you know is struggling, it is important to know where to reach out for help.
Who would you talk to if you were distressed, overwhelmed or struggling? Take a moment to make a list of at least 3 people or resources you would reach out to.
Who would your child/youth talk to if they were upset, overwhelmed or struggling? Take a moment to sit down with your child/youth and ask them who they would talk to. Put the Kids Help Phone and HERE247 or DCAFS number in their phones (see below).
All children and youth need caring adults in their lives to talk to about their feelings. Parents/guardians can be some of those caring adults, but it is important for the children/youth to have other caring adults in their lives such as:
- Family members, friends of the family
- School staff (teachers, guidance counsellors, principals, child and youth counsellors, social workers, librarian, custodial staff)
- Coaches, instructors
- Spiritual or religious community
- Community members (police, family doctors, librarians, etc.)
Who you can call for mental health support:
- Here 24/7 (for crisis and support with mental health or addiction concerns in Guelph/Wellington) http://here247.ca/ 1.844.437.3247
- Dufferin Child and Family Services (DCAFS) (for crisis and mental health supports for children/youth in Dufferin) https://dcafs.on.ca/ 519 941 1530
- Kids Help Phone https://kidshelpphone.ca/ 1 800 668 6868
- Your family physician or family health team
Have a mentally healthy holiday season!
Categories: News