Mental health at Collège Champittet

Dear Champiteans,

The World Economic Forum ranks mental health as a social priority. In short, as long as human beings were struggling to feed themselves, their minds were focused on survival. In the relative comfort of advanced societies, mental equilibrium can be disrupted by isolation, lack of contact with nature, a sedentary lifestyle, an ageing population, an avalanche of bad news in the media or on social networks, or work-related stress. Globalisation has its advantages: it opens up the prospect of international travel and careers, but it also creates new difficulties by weakening family ties: we all know an expatriate colleague who is having difficulty coping with the declining health of his or her elderly parents   the other side of the world. The quest for happiness has given rise to some unexpected problems.

At our recent professional learning day, held under the annual theme of mental resistance and resilience, the College decided to look at a relatively new approach, known as first aid in mental health. The aim is to strengthen our ability to support a colleague or student at a difficult time. It's not about psychology, which is a complex profession, but about an ability that everyone can understand.

• Step 1: Take care of yourself before turning to others.
• Step 2: Know how to spot the signs of mental problems.
• Step 3: With all due sensitivity, open a dialogue with the person who seems to be in distress.

My colleagues and I emerge from this experience more confident and better 'armed' in our collective desire to support all members of the school community. Students learn better when they are happy and calm.

To know more, click here: Swiss Foundation Pro Mente Sana, and our trainers of HealthFirst.