Three different Thaden faculty members were asked the same question regarding mental and physical health. The first is Coach Scott Passmore, who serves as the Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness. The second, Dr. Alana Janoff, who is a member of the English faculty. Lastly, Dr. Suzanna Schmidt, Thaden School’s high school counselor.
The Brain-Body Connection
How do we define and improve mental health?
As developing minds are drowned with digital media, we’re becoming increasingly aware of its influence on mental health and how we define a healthy mind. When I decided to write an article on wellness, I immediately thought of mental health. Physical health is absolutely important; however, I would argue that physical health is more manageable. If your physical health is failing, the solutions are easier to find, while mental health has many solutions. Whether it’s seasonal, circumstantial, or hereditary, there are many ways you can address mental stressors. For the body, we typically have a clear checklist. But our individually dynamic minds can’t be forced into sharp-edged boxes. So how do we make measurable changes? How do we educate in a way that everyone can benefit from the information? As I explored how my school views mental health, I learned that viewing the brain and body as one unit is helpful. When I asked three highly educated faculty members at Thaden School about what the connection between brain and body looks like to them, they offered intriguing insights.
Coach Scott Passmore
Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness
"Over the past several years, numerous studies have examined the relationship between mental health and physical fitness. The majority of these studies have highlighted the positive benefits of physical activity on a person's mental well-being. Self-esteem, resilience, health benefits, and confidence are enhanced through physical activity. These factors can have a direct impact on the emotional health of a person, improving one's energy, reducing stress and anxiety, and fostering a sense of accomplishment.
A great example can be seen when a beginning-level runner is preparing for a long race. This individual may start training at a very low level of fitness and struggle to run at a slow pace for a short distance. However, progressive and consistent training allows the runner to improve their fitness over time and eventually run a 5K with ease. The runner will experience a sense of accomplishment and pride, resulting in improved mental health."
Dr. Alana Janoff
English Faculty
"I believe that the relationship between physical conditioning and mental well-being is not just a matter of short-term mood improvement; it is a lesson in resilience and mental toughness. I believe that if our bodies are accustomed to (intentional) physiological challenges through regular physical conditioning, we will also be better equipped to address the mental and emotional challenges that life – in all of its unpredictability – inevitably presents to us.
Though stress might be invisible or difficult to pinpoint, the toll that stress and elevated cortisol levels take on our bodies is real. Though none of us can predict the future, the simple knowledge that I can perform extremely challenging physical feats and push myself beyond limits is, for me, a powerful reassurance that when challenges arise or seemingly insurmountable problems present themselves, I will be able to meet them and transcend them."
Dr. Suzanna Schmidt
School Counselor
"If you have historically thought of your physical and mental health as two distinct processes, I would invite you to think differently. In the early 1990s, Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced a progressive concept in his book, Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Zabat-Kinn presents research that highlights the benefits of using mindfulness as medicine to enhance healing and well-being. His groundbreaking work is recognized as foundational for understanding integrated wellness.
When we consider the deeply woven concepts of physical and mental health, it’s important to take a comprehensive perspective. We think of movement, social connectedness, food, quality of relationships, and sleep habits as foundational components for physical and mental health. Contemporary medicine uses a bio-psychosocial model because your doctor understands that effective treatment requires addressing psychological stress, social environments, and biological states simultaneously. Simply put, we can’t attend to one without the other. Today, we continue to see a strong bidirectional influence between our mind and body.
For example, we now know that chronic stress, depression, and anxiety influence immune function, inflammation, and hormone balance, thereby contributing to conditions such as high blood pressure, GI issues, and heart disease. Additionally, we know that chronic or acute physical illnesses, such as autoimmune disorders, can worsen and negatively influence mental wellness. Just as illness and wellness are two sides of the same coin, I would assert that physical and mental health are as well."
Just as illness and wellness are two sides of the same coin, I would assert that physical and mental health are as well.