Our VCE Psychology students recently had the opportunity to participate in an engaging and thought-provoking presentation from Paws in Schools, supporting their learning in Unit 4, Area of Study 2: Mental Wellbeing.
The session provided students with an opportunity to explore concepts from the Mental Wellbeing unit in a meaningful and practical context. Through the presentation, students considered the important role that animals can play in supporting human wellbeing and explored how interactions with animals may contribute to positive mental health outcomes.
The incursion also encouraged students to think more deeply about the factors that can influence mental health and wellbeing, including the importance of social connection, emotional support and positive relationships. These ideas provided a valuable real-world connection to the psychological concepts students have been studying in class.
For our students, the experience was an excellent opportunity to move beyond the textbook and see how psychological knowledge can be applied in everyday settings. It also encouraged them to consider the broader ways in which individuals, communities and support networks can contribute to mental health and wellbeing.
We thank Paws in Schools for providing such an engaging and relevant learning experience for our VCE Psychology students. The incursion was a wonderful addition to our classroom learning and gave students another perspective through which to understand the complex and important topic of mental health.
- Ms Helen Diab