The Health and Mind Club of Delhi Private School, Sharjah, convened a webinar on Teen Mental Health First Aid on 25th July 2023 for the students of Grade 11 & 12. This webinar helped members of the club understand how they can help their peers in times of a mental health crisis.

The session began by shedding light on the 3-3-3 exercise which is a grounding technique that redirects our attention from our anxiety and unwanted thoughts to the present by shifting focus to three bodily senses: sight, hearing, and touch.

The webinar spread awareness about some common misconceptions related to mental health, like the difference between healthy/normal worrying and an anxiety disorder, between sadness and depression and between a careful diet and an eating disorder. The session elucidated alcohol, substance abuse and other addictions and their distressing effects on mental health and provided numerous statistics related to mental health concerns worldwide.

Club members learnt about applying PEARL – the teen M.H.F.A ( Teen mental health First Aid )action plan which gave members an  insight on how they can reach out to their peers who they believe are under mental stress and what to do, or not do, when approaching their friends, while also reminding them to not make their entire friendship all about mental health.

In closing, the club had a fruitful session where the members of the club actively participated and interacted while simultaneously gaining important knowledge to help their peers.