The Healthy Minds program is all about outcomes: creating a healthy workforce, enhancing performance, reducing costs and building engagement.

An estimated 400 million people worldwide suffer from mental or neurological disorders or from psycho-social problems. Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse and job stress are common, affecting individuals, their families and co-workers, and the broader community. In addition, they have a direct impact on workplaces through increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased costs. Very few South Africans seek treatment for their mental disorders.

The Cost of Mental Health in South Africa

There are few prevalence studies of mental health difficulties among South African university students, but existing data suggest that:

• 12 per cent experience moderate to severe symptoms of depression,
• 15 per cent have moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety,
• 24 per cent report suicidal thoughts.

In recent years, increasing rates of student suicides at South African universities have heightened the urgency of developing coherent institutional strategies to address student mental health needs. Schools & Universities in South Africa now recognise that a proactive, preventive approach to mental health is essential and crucial, especially during and post COVID-19 for all students & learners.

Our Healthy Minds School Program provides you with the essential tool to enable your institution to satisfy its most important responsibility: the mental well-being of your students. This program is for educational institutions who recognise the importance of Mental Health in the learning environment and support the learners journey to health and well-being.

These tools include awareness & education around the importance mental health, health strategies, commitment and consultations to create a preventive mental health strategy for enhanced well-being and performance.

The Healthy Minds program was developed as part of a research study and we combine psychological skills program with a pragmatic, integrated model of mental health to bring about a culture of well-being in your company.

Taught by specially trained facilitators, this  program involves simple daily activities, and fits into the lifestyle or personal development curriculum of each school’s (Grade 5 to 12) class schedule, or can be integrated into an extra curriculum activity.

This Healthy Minds Program include:

• Stress management techniques.
• Mindfulness and meditation training.
• Visualisation tools for setting, creating and achieving goals.
• Laughter Therapy – which is the undertone of the program.
• Implementing healthy lifestyle suggestions and social norms.
• Exercise and energy exercise for whole brain integration.
• The importance of social connections in achieving a healthy mind.

This program is facilitated in-house or online by Dr Martin Combrinck (PhD), Director of Sanga Wellness and a Corporate Wellness Strategist.

Our Healthy Minds School Program provides you with the essential tool to enable your institution to satisfy its most important responsibility: the mental well-being of your educators.

Schools and universities, have some very special challenges and advantages that make them ideal locations to offer school wellness programs. Just like any other worksite, schools need help controlling employee health care costs and keeping employees healthy.

School employees require medical care just like any other employees and schools have to control healthcare costs. Individuals who work in schools have average health risks and healthcare costs – this fact alone is an excellent reason to offer school wellness programs.

School employees can benefit from having a school wellness program. Those that do offer staff wellness programs will be rewarded with improved employee health, lower health care costs and greater work satisfaction.

Some Reasons School Wellness Programs Are a Smart School Strategy

• Absenteeism Costs Schools More Than It Costs Other Worksites.
• Schools Need to Watch Their Finances More Closely Than Other Worksites.
• Schools Have Great Fitness and Healthy Eating Facilities.
• Published Research Proves That School Wellness Programs Can Work

We offer WellSteps – an award-winning Wellness program that includes:

• Personal Health Assessment (PHA).
• Behaviour Change Campaigns.
• Incentives & Rewards to motivate staff.
• Tracking of healthy activities
• Screening reminders.
• Social interactive community, etc.

The WellSteps wellness program is an evidence-based program, carefully adhering to the RE-AIM and AMSO behavior change frameworks. With the completion of several published evaluations, the program is also evidence producing.

Contact us to find out how we can implement this program at your school or university.

Benefits of the Healthy Minds Program:

• Happier at school, and happier with life.
• More flexible in their thinking.
• More creative and productive at university.
• Better able to interact better with other students.
• Less likely to get sick or burden by stress.
• Reduced risk for depression, anxiety, stress, and other difficulties.
• Better able to identify and readily use their peak performance ‘zone’.
• Scholastic creativity and enhancement.

By becoming an accredited Healthy Minds School, you provide your staff and students with the skills and knowledge to be their best, and establish your institution as a leader in student well-being. Contact us for more information regarding the accreditation process.