Throughout the past week, we have been celebrating our annual Blue Week, raising awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. This year, our theme has been “It’s okay to not be okay.” There is a societal stigma that, as males, to be considered a “man” means never showing weakness or emotion. This has led to many men bottling up their emotions, contributing to a rapid rise in mental health issues among the male population. As an all-boys school, it is our responsibility to break down this stigma and show that it is, in fact, okay to not be okay. We have promoted the message that there is strength in vulnerability and emphasised the importance of opening up to others.
This focus began in Week 7 when old scholar Nathan Bolton (YNG 2005) addressed the School in preparation for Blue Week. Nathan, a former Special Operations Engineer, was deployed twice to Afghanistan with Australia’s Special Forces. However, upon his return, he was struck by PTSD, anxiety, and depression – a battle that almost cost him his life. He managed to change his rigid views on vulnerability and is now a mental health advocate and published author.
Nathan’s address was one of the most powerful and inspirational speeches we have ever heard at St Peter’s College. He shared his story and ended with a very impactful message about “following your dreams, living and learning, and never giving up on yourself.” He spoke about “dying as a proud old man having lived a life worth living and leaving a legacy that you, your friends, and family can remember you by.” It was the perfect way to lead us into Blue Week, with this uplifting and positive message to the boys. Nathan will release a book, ‘Trigger Warning’, in October which details his life and journey with mental health. We encourage everyone to get their own copy—it will be well worth a read. For more information on Nathan’s soon to be released book, visit: Nathan Bolton – ‘Trigger Warning’.
Blue Week itself has been a huge success, with numerous fun and exciting activities taking place. Throughout the week, each mentor group received muffins during their morning session, which sparked discussions around vulnerability and opening up to others. We also worked on a collaborative Junior School artwork, where every Junior School boy marked their handprint in blue paint on a large canvas, symbolising their commitment to lending a “hand” when their friends need it. Referencing our school prayer, the slogan for this mural is “Helping hands towards a strong and lovely community.” The mural will be unveiled at the final Junior School Assembly of the term in Week 10.
We also hosted our first-ever “Captain’s Cup Minute to Win It Challenge,” where boys participated in fun mini-games that contribute to the Captain’s Cup trophy. Finally, on the last day of Blue Week, we had a barbeque cooked up by our prefects, accompanied by a stellar performance from our Rock Band, White. We also held a casual clothes day, where students were encouraged to wear blue to show their support for Blue Week. All proceeds raised will be donated to Beyond Blue, a charity dedicated to helping people with mental health issues.
All in all, it was a great week, and we hope the boys took something valuable away from it. Our ultimate goal is for boys to feel like they can be vulnerable and open up when they are experiencing challenges, and that they are also checking in on their friends to ensure they are doing well. Remember, ‘it’s okay to not be okay’.
James Hattingh and Ryan Fowler
School Captains