Celebrating World Mental Health Day 2024 - The Royal Ballet School

Today we celebrated World Mental Health Day at the School. The day focused on the theme of mental health in the workplace and provided both students and staff with opportunities to reflect on their mental health and emotional states in a creative and engaging way. 

This year, the School drew inspiration from the film Inside Out and its sequel, Inside Out 2, to encourage everyone to explore their emotions. These animated films beautifully depict emotions as distinct characters within our minds, each with its own personality, quirks, and insecurities. By personifying emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and new additions such as Anxiety, Envy, and Ennui, the movies offer a compelling way to understand and embrace the full range of human feelings. 

The School invited students and staff to check in with themselves, consider their emotional states, and reflect on which parts of themselves they might want to get to know better. As part of this initiative, stickers featuring the Inside Out characters were made available, and individuals were encouraged to choose one that represented an emotion they wanted to explore further. These stickers were intended to spark conversations about emotional experiences, vulnerability, and mental well-being. 

Staff and students participated in this exercise, opening up discussions about the importance of understanding and integrating all emotions—even the uncomfortable ones. The initiative emphasised the concept that there are no bad parts in our emotional landscape; all emotions serve a purpose and contribute to our overall well-being. By fostering emotional awareness and encouraging open dialogue, we aim to create a supportive environment where mental health is prioritised. 

Lucy Bailie, our School Counsellor, said of the week: 

In addition to Thursday’s event, the School hosted a series of activities leading up to World Mental Health Day. These included assemblies and discussions focused on themes of emotional awareness, self-leadership, and the importance of embracing all parts of oneself. Students at White Lodge enjoyed an outdoor cinema experience watching Inside Out 2 over the weekend, and other students had their own movie night. 

The idea of using Inside Out to frame emotional discussions has already had a positive impact on the School community. Both students and staff have praised the film for its ability to explain complex emotional concepts, especially in the context of adolescence, where emotional experiences are often heightened. The initiative has not only sparked interest but also inspired meaningful conversations about mental health and emotional well-being. 

As World Mental Health Day ends, the School hopes that the lessons learned from these activities will continue to resonate, encouraging everyone to embrace their emotions and foster a deeper sense of self-awareness and compassion.