Anxious, nervous, and when you’re feeling strong emotions pushing you to the brink – take a moment to breathe in deeply. And then exhale.
High school students are learning the art of self care by regulating one breath at a time.
Students at Lloydminster Comprehensive took in a mental health fair in the gym and were benefitting from some different exercises as they visited the various information tables set up by some 20 groups including first responders, among others.
“Regulation is the ability to manage your emotions, and know strategies to help calm yourself,” says Hewlett, who will be at the Comp for the next three years.
“We have been teaching regulation strategies to grade nines. Then we went through grade 10. And now I’m teaching them in grade 11. They are going great. The students are using them in exam periods and in stressful moments.”
Hewlett notes a lot of stress is brought on during exams and making presentations.
“We have been teaching them breathing strategies. Breathing is the fastest way to regulate your brain. Basically just taking a deep breath and then a long, meaningful exhale – helps lower your heart rate, and in return; regulates you.”
The mental health and well-being team at the Comp has organized a mental health fair in the past by bringing in local community agencies.
“We are actually having a whole mental health week at the school right now, and that is run by the leadership class.”
Both ambulance services in Lloydminster, Border Paws, Residents in Recovery, RCMP, Hunt Psychology, Mental Health & Addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, AlaTeen, school counsellors, and Indigenous mental health, and others were in the gym to share information.
