Torch - Spring 2018

A Commitment to Mindfulness: Dr. Ian Chen

New to the Board of Governors this year is Adolescent Medicine Specialist Dr. Ian Chen. His expertise in teen health and brain development is an asset to the Board as they make various health and wellness decisions for the school. Dr. Chen advocates the idea of mindfulness to parents as a way to negate some of the negative side effects of technology on brain development: “The constant stimulation of the brain does not provide time to digest and process a constant stream of information. This is why there has lately been a lot of interest into mindfulness... I think we can all benefit from taking part in some activities with our friends and family, without the presence of technology and simply enjoying their company, leading to more meaningful and genuine connections. This will be a difficult task for many in today’s world; however, this will facilitate healthy teen brain development.” The Board is pleased to have Dr. Chen as a member this year, as he is a great wellness resource. “It’s very refreshing to see that Havergal College is a school that greatly values the holistic and overall development of the students alongside academic and co-curricular development,” Dr. Chen says.

Chelsea Dumasal leads a discussion on mindful language with her peers.

says Dumasal. As soon as she starts listing examples, you realize they are pervasive everywhere in today’s society. “For example, often I hear people say: ‘My OCD is kicking in,’” says Dumasal. “That really bugs me because OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder] is a real illness. Likewise, another joke that I hear is: ‘Canadian weather is so bipolar,’ but that trivializes mental illness. If someone’s trivializing your illness that you live with every day, you can imagine how they would feel.” After brainstorming with Havergal’s Social Worker, Angie Holstein, Dumasal created a lesson plan on mindful expressions for the Teacher Advisor program and also organized a Safe Space, which was a student-led discussion on the topic of mental health. “The conversation was great,” says Dumasal. “I feel like everyone there was actually passionate about this topic and I found a lot of insights.” Dumasal hopes that by raising awareness of this issue at Havergal, her peers will be more mindful about the language they use and the effects of it on those living with mental illness.

learn to give names to feelings and recognize that a day can be filled with different ones. Shanmugathasan says she likes to use the phrase “What emotions visit you?” and adds that teachers don’t expect students to be happy-go-lucky all day long. Instead, they’re taught to be mindful of what strategies might help them to feel better, from a moment in the Peace Corner to a hug from a friend. Grade 12 student Chelsea Dumasal is a science enthusiast whose interests include Havergal’s Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee teams, the Senior Choir, the Jack.org club and the school newspaper Behind the Ivy (of which she is Editor-in-Chief). She also has a passion for mindful language and has been creating opportunities for like-minded students to come together to talk about their ideas on inclusive expression. But her latest goal is to make Havergal more mindful. “I’m trying to urge the community to be aware about the language they use in reference to mental illness,” Boosting mindful language in the Senior School

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