I know we teach our children to look after their body through good dental hygiene, cleanliness (washing hands, taking baths/showers, etc.), exercise and regular check ups at the doctor. We want them to care for themselves and avoid illness and generally stay in good health.
 
But in all the talk about engaging children, youth and families in mental health awareness, do we start at home by talking about mental wellness. I know I’ve started to think about this in the past few years since coming to Kinark and starting a job focused on engagement and awareness about mental health!
 
Let me tell you what I do for my mental health. First, I run. I know that sounds like a physical health activity but on days when I really feel a bit tired or grumpy and the thought of running makes even more grumpy, I know that this is the very moment that I should get moving! Running levels my thinking. It takes busy, tumultuous thoughts and smoothes them into a steady, calmer stream. (There is strong evidence that links physical activity to mental wellbeing.) On a good day, I can get that “runner’s high” from the natural endorphins generated by my hard work!
 
Another activity is snowboarding. It’s physical again but this time it pushes all thoughts out in favour of focusing on not falling down again!
 
More recently, I have been practicing mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or meditation through focusing on your breath. It does require the discipline to stop and just be in the moment but when I do this, it has a profoundly stilling effect that carries through the day.
 
Now, do I talk about this with my children? Increasingly I do. My daughter struggles with anxiety and encouraging regular physical activity and quiet breathing is an important supplement to any specific treatment she may receive. My other daughter is naturally active but figured out the value of withdrawing for quiet time a long time ago. Two very different girls but both of them are learning how to support their own mental wellbeing.
 
Kinark has been exploring ways to do this kind of physical and mental wellbeing work in our own “family.” The Kinark Outdoor Centre is all about connecting young people and their families to physical activities in an outdoor environment. These activities are strength-based and build mental wellness. And we also have piloted a program that teaches adolescents about mindfulness practice as a supplement to their treatment.
 
The work that we do to engage families in activities or programs that go beyond clinical treatment are about supporting mental wellness. We do that with our little families and with our big Kinark family!