Thought For The Day – Friday 10^th October 2025

Today is World Mental Health Day.   Today is also Non-Uniform Day at T.B.S.H.S., with very grateful thanks to Interact and to the whole school community for their wonderful support.  It is very much appreciated and not taken for granted.

We all have mental health. We respond to any challenges resiliently and together.

We know some people, who show great resilience, have particular challenges locally, nationally, and globally. We dedicate today to them and their families.

Some further information about the charities we are raising money for:

“Mind” is a mental health charity in the U.K., which helps very many people. “Mind” works to provide information, empowerment, and support to,  and campaigning and advocacy on behalf of,  people with mental health challenges.  In the summer, at the men’s cricket test match between England and India, supporters raised money for “Mind” in memory of Graham Thorpe M.B.E.. In this wonderful feature “Sky Sports” pay tribute, whilst Amanda Thorpe gives very wise advice about mental health generally, talking about the “Mind” charity:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4aHWWNFRcQ

Such organisations are only a call away. There will always be support at home, in school and in the community. We need to check people are o.k.. We further need to check people are really o.k.. And it really is o.k. not to be o.k., as we share anxieties, concerns, traumas, vulnerabilities and worries and overcome challenges, however small and however massive, together.

Deeply moved by the death of a 14-year-old girl at a funeral he attended in Lincoln,  Reverend Dr. Chad Varah set up a telephone line some years later in the basement of his London church, founding a service that was called “Samaritans”,  taking its name from Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan.  “Samaritans” now respond to a call for help every 10 seconds. “Samaritans” do not judge.  They are there for those in need. They listen. In recent years, Norwich City Football Club have raised further awareness of “Samaritans” through moving campaign videos, and their “minute unsilenced” initiative where they encouraged supporters to take a minute to talk with, and check in on,  each other rather than be silent.

This week we have been deeply thinking about online safety.  “Christoforos Charity Foundation”,  is a local charity which creates safe, real-world, in-person experiences for young people and raises awareness of online safety, which was set up by parents, George and Areti Nicolaou, whose son passed away from this life.  The charity’s website is here: https://christoforoscharityfoundation.co.uk/

Today, we also remember those who have challenges remembering. We are mindful of all who have challenges with their mind. Illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, for example, affect irreplaceable nerve cells in the brain and lead to the loss of functions such as memory, language, perception, thinking, and problem-solving.  1 in 3 people in the U.K. develop Dementia.  The Dementia charity “Playlist for Life” uses music, which evokes so many experiences and emotions,  to support people with dementia, and give, and point to,  support to people with the condition generally.

In our journey,  we treasure our individuality.

We, and you, all have our own unique challenges, experiences, memories, “playlist”, roots, and story.

We, and you, are loved, precious, special, and valued beyond words.

And in our journey,  we, and you, support, look out for, and learn from each other in community.

We, and you, care and grow together, spreading love to others.