Yesterday was the beginning of the Natsu Basho. However, more importantly today is the beginning of Mental Heath Awareness Week. Mental Health Awareness week is exactly what it says; it is a week where campaigners try to raise awareness of Mental Health and Mental Health issues. As individuals we can often underestimate the impact life has on our wellbeing, from stress, to all matter of other factors.
As Jedi, we are often very good at taking care of others, and those who do not identify as Jedi, but we do not often consider our fellow Jedi or ourselves when it comes to our responsibility to each other. A huge focus of many organisations this Mental Health Week is stress and well-being. The potential damaging affects of stress have long been understood, with Seyle performing the seminal research on biological stress in the 1930s. However, how truly detrimental it is to human beings is a rather recent body of research. Researchers at the Yale Stress Center found that continued durations of high stress dramatically affect the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is the most recently evolved part of the human brain. Brain functions localised to the prefrontal cortex include regulation of the amygdala, blood pressure and heart beat, however, it is also houses functions of learning, planning, focus, and judgement making. Chronic Stress is related to reduced functions within the prefrontal cortex, and even shrinking of the prefrontal cortex. None of that is a good thing.
Though, what is stress? To paraphrase Marmot, Stress is what happens when we can't control what is happening to us. This is consistent with most models of biological stress, and indeed might have routes in human evolution and the issues of a modern world. Our stress response is also our fight or flight response, and the fight or flight response has incredible effects on the body. Imagine that extreme response as a daily experience, and you have chronic stressed. To return to Seyle’s model, and subsequent research, we know that long term stress increases chances of stomach illnesses, cancer, and heart disease. However, we also know from research that the more resources we possess, and the type of society we live in can help and protect us from stress.
During this mental health week, I want you reader, as a Jedi, to consider what sort of society you are helping to build and live in. Are you being part of a society which induces stress, rather than protects people from it’s worst and most dramatic effects?
As a mentor or teacher, to others, consider your role carefully. As a teacher we must often challenge our students and their world view, but are you doing it effectively with a growth-based mindset? If not, are you simply being an additional stressor? Is the person you are challenging retreating from your lessons because you simply trigger their fight or flight response?
Furthermore; consider the stressors in your own life. Do you spend far too much time on social media? Do you allow yourself a break from the online world and others? Are the moments you are physically alone moments of actual solitude, or just times you take a chance to go through e-mails?
Lastly, however, consider the resources at your disposal and the resource you are. How do you effectively communicate with those around you that can help you with your struggles? Also, how effectively are you helping others with their stress?
Thank you for reading, and please during this week feel free to share all you can about mental health awareness. Every little helps in confronting the issues of mental health.