Wellbeing

Applied suicide prevention skills training.

12 staff members recently participated in applied suicide prevention skills training with the purpose of equipping them to:

• Identify people who have thoughts of suicide.

• Listen to the story of a person at risk and recognise turning points that connect that person to life and hope.

• Appreciate how talking openly about suicide can help prevent it.

• Know how to contribute to suicide safety by protecting, preserving and promoting life within the College community.

It was a challenging but worthwhile professional development that better assisted staff to assist our students and community.

Ways to develop resilience.

Like any skill, mental, emotional and spiritual resilience can be learned and built with continual practice. Proverbs 24:16 says “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”

The Wellbeing team are passionate about encouraging and equipping students with tools to become resilient young people. Below are some encouraging tips that we practice regularly in strengthening and nurturing resilience.

1. Redefine setbacks as the gateway to something greater.

2. Remember successful people don’t just face adversity, they embrace it.

3. Tune out the critics and focus on doing your best.

4. Wake up every day remembering that prayer and gratitude create a fertile environment for faith.

5. Increase your faith talk when you’re afraid.

6. Learn from failure, and remember the many times you’ve succeeded.

7. Visualise victory before going into battle.

8. Refuse to dwell on the past or worry about the future; today is where you have the most influence.

9. Identify a solution instead of complaining.

10. Replace self-doubt with faith talk.

11. When things look hopeless, remember ‘with God all things are possible.’ (Mark 10:27)

12. When you feel alone, think of all those who have helped you and who love and support you.

13. Pray for guidance when you’re in over your head. (James 1:5)

14. Rest when you’re tired, but don’t give up. Finish strong in everything you do.

15. Remember you ‘can do all things through Christ’ when you think you can’t. (Philippians 4:13)

16. Recognise what you can’t control, focus on what you can and surrender the rest to God.

17. Exercise physically if you can, to give yourself a sense of control, and to help lift your mod.

18. Laugh to reduce stress, strengthen your immune system and improve arterial blood flow.

19. Be grateful! Research shows that people who sent a letter or email of thanks to somebody who helped them, stayed in a better mood for up to a month.