Mental Health Awareness Week

From Monday 11th to Friday 15th May, learners at Thornbeck College marked Mental Health Awareness Week, a national initiative focused on raising awareness and improving understanding of mental health, while exploring ways to support and promote wellbeing. This year’s theme, action, encouraged individuals and communities to take positive steps towards supporting mental health and wellbeing. To reflect this theme, staff and learners took part in a variety of activities, including:

Learners at Thornbeck College took part in a relaxing yoga workshop designed to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

The session encouraged learners to focus on mindfulness, breathing techniques, and gentle movement, helping to reduce stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation and emotional balance. Yoga also provided an opportunity for learners to build confidence and improve concentration in a calm and supportive environment.

Learners took part in mindfulness activities such as colouring and relaxation exercises.

These activities helped learners to feel calmer, more relaxed, and better able to focus during the session. Mindfulness activities can reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration, and support emotional wellbeing. Colouring and relaxation exercises also encourage learners to take time away from distractions, helping them to manage their emotions in a positive way and build confidence in using calming techniques independently.

Learners were encouraged to go walking to support wellbeing.

Walking gave learners the opportunity to talk, reflect, and spend time in a calm environment, which can have a positive impact on mental health. Physical activity such as walking can help reduce stress, improve mood, and support emotional wellbeing. The activity also encouraged learners to recognise the importance of looking after their mental health through healthy habits and social interaction.

The celebration of this event has supported learners’ positive mental health and wellbeing by helping them develop coping strategies, emotional resilience, and confidence in seeking support when needed. Through participating in activities linked to global efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, learners have strengthened friendships within college and developed a greater sense of belonging within their community. The skills and self-awareness gained through this event will continue to support them throughout their adult lives.