Mental health is just as important as physical health

A healthy body supports a healthy mind and vice versa. It is important that we, as teachers, prioritize and model this for our students, said Teelucksingh.

Health monitoring means that parenting affects one aspect of the other. Make sure you eat a healthy diet such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, peas and beans, low in fat and low in salt. Make sure you get enough exercise.

On Wednesday, Teelucksingh delivered the address at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts at Todd Street in San Fernando, where the Presbyterian Primary School Board of Education (PPSBE) held its Teachers’ Meeting.

This year’s theme is Mind Matters.

Teelucksingh said the most valuable thing in schools is the mindset of students, as they are the future of the world. Referring to the theme, he said it means that people should recognize and value each child individually.

On the importance of mental health, he emphasized that an environment should be created where every student feels safe to express their feelings and concerns.

He added that, if there is one thing that should be remembered at this conference, it is that we must remove the stigma that comes from mental health.

He questioned the number of schools that have wellness programs, stress reduction sessions, mindfulness sessions and access to counseling. He added that these are all important tools in the armamentarium to help improve mental health.

Teelucksingh called for stress management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga to be included in all academic curricula.

As a teacher, you lead by example. Prioritizing your health sends a powerful message to your students, and incorporating health topics into the curriculum will resonate with parents, she said.

Teelucksingh also referred to the US television series Mister Rogers Neighborhood, saying the character Fred Rogers reminded people that everything that is human is named and that everything that is named is perishable.

“When we talk about our feelings, it’s less, less offensive, less threatening,” Teelucksingh said.

He said many people are dealing with the silent epidemic of stress, anxiety, and depression, which is very common among students and workers.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms is the first step in providing timely help. These include trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of worthlessness and worthlessness.

These dark thoughts fill our minds and sometimes, unfortunately, even suicidal thoughts, he added.

He said mental health is affected by genetics and environment. Interactions between genetics and life events contribute to psychological well-being.

Teelucksingh added that the Covid-19 pandemic had also created special challenges with educational facilities, closures, illnesses and deaths.

He said Burnourns can be caused by long-term stress, too much work, and lack of self-care.

He asked teachers and elders to prioritize self-care.

Make sure there is time for relaxation, fun and spending time with loved ones. School administrators and colleagues should establish support centers where teachers can openly discuss their problems, Teelucksingh said.

Let’s help our teachers manage their work better, have realistic goals and prioritize work. Let’s promote cooperation and collaboration among teachers.

Teelucksingh said that the Ministry of Education and the Presbyterian organization should provide opportunities for professional development and training to help teachers stay engaged and motivated.

He warned that sedentary work leads to fatigue.

Teelucksingh referred to teachers as dream builders, sources of knowledge, mentors, guides, and role models.

The greatest teacher of all was Jesus because he had many different practices. He said that Jesus is called a teacher more than 70 times in the Bible.

Teelucksingh told the teachers that if they wanted to learn how to make any idea relevant, they should revise the Gospels of the Bible.

He quoted German-born scientist Albert Einstein, who said that teaching does not mean only learning things but teaching the mind to think.

Teelucksingh said that people should acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of students, teachers, schools, and all the teachers because positive reinforcement promotes self-confidence and motivation.

Also present were Presbyterian Church of TT (PCTT) Synod moderator, Rev Daniel Chance, its general secretary Terrence Warde, former moderator Rev Brenda Bullock, and PPSBE chairman Vickram Ramlal.

TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) president Martin Lum Kin and director of school management and administration at the Ministry of Education, Aaron Ramrattan, were also in attendance.

Lum Kin made a comment saying that he reiterated TTUTA’s commitment to partner and work with the organization to move forward and bring the education sector where it should be.

I believe that all these institutions are interested in TT courses, he said.

He added that, In the past, we have not seen this all the time, and TTUTA is committed and prepared to protect the rights of our members, you, the teachers of TT. Even if we agree, there will be times when we must stand up for our members.

He said he hoped that the meeting would give members ideas to reform and revive the work of teachers.

Lum Kin thanked the teachers for their yeoman service to the school and the country.

Ramrattan commented on behalf of the ministry.