The world celebrated World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024 on the theme “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace” during which Sr. Michelle Ankrah, SSL, a licensed professional counselor of the Sisters of St. Louis Congregation educated the Staff of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic School at Wioso in the Goaso Diocese.
Sr. Ankrah was there on the invitation of Sr. Naomi Nkrumah, SSL, headteacher of the School.
Educating the staff, Sr. Michelle began with a Latin quote that read, “Mens sana in corpore sano” translated as a sound mind in a sound body.
She took the staff through what mental health is, where she clarified that mental health is a term used to describe emotional, psychological and social well-being. She also made the point that ones ability to accept and cope with everyday stress indicates ones mental health.
She encouraged them not to confuse mental health with mental illness. She mentioned good relationships, feelings of hope, flexibility, creativity, positive self perception among others as characteristics of mental health.
She made it clear that genetic disposition, life stressors e.g. divorce and bereavement and childhood trauma or abuses were challenges to mental health.
She furnished them with some tips to help them stay mentally healthy including meditations, nature walks, thinking positively, staying connected to others and connecting to a spiritual source higher that one is.
There was time for group discussions and sharing of personal experiences. Questions were asked as and when the teachers had issues they needed to be clarified.
The session ended with a practical meditation session . The teachers were taken through a guided meditation process and they testified to the benefits that meditation carried.
