HUSKYKIND Campaign

We are challenging students to participate in the #HUSKYKIND challenge this quarter.  There is much research that connects acts of kindness and improved mental health.  It has the added bonus of cultivating a culture of care. For more information go to this link.

What is kindness?

It is an action intended to benefit someone (yourself or someone else).

What are the mental health benefits of kindness to others?

1. Helping others helps you feel good

There is evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness.

Being kind to others can help reduce anxiety.  Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active. This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem.

1. It creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation

Helping others can also help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends and connect with our community. The human connection between the person being kind and the recipient(s) can help reduce loneliness and isolation.  The benefits remain the same whether you are kind to a stranger or a loved one.

1. It helps make the world happier – it’s contagious!

Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place, with positive impacts on the giver and the receiver. The benefits of a kind act on the recipient is much greater than the giver imagines it is.

It may also encourage others to repeat the good deed that they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.

What are the mental health benefits of self-compassion?

There is abundant research that self-compassion is very beneficial to your wellbeing.  Therefore, we included some self-compassion items in our list.

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