- Skin-to-skin contact in even in the first hour after birth has been shown to help regulate newborns’ temperature, heart rate, and breathing, and decreases crying
- Touch deprivation is correlated with negative health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and immune system disorders.
- Ways to address touch deprivation include massage therapy, pets, and weighted blankets.
From the moment we’re born, the need for human touch is ever-present, it’s one of our most basic primal needs.
In a post-pandemic world where far too many people are engaged in their screens and personal bubbles, touch is becoming less common in everyday life, contributing to feelings of isolation, depressing and anxiety.
When we touch, a hormone called oxytocin is released, which helps humans to form emotional connections to others. Oxytocin creates a sense of wellbeing and happiness from infancy, which is why we feel comforted when in contact with another being.
Physical touch also increases our levels of dopamine and serotonin. These are two neurotransmitters that play a part in regulating mood and relieving stress and anxiety.
Touch can work wonders for your immune system too. Studies have shown that positive touch can lower the heart rate and blood pressure, leading to less diseases linked to the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
Not everyone is naturally tactile, but if you’re not one of life’s great huggers, don’t panic! All of those feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters are still released by stroking a pet. You may also want to try using a weighted blanket.
Our Relax Kids Peer Massage programme introduces the benefits of touch to school-age children. It’s been developed to lower stress and anxiety levels, and lead to a calmer classroom with less aggression and bullying.
Introducing pro-touch in schools also helps to build emotional resilience and self-esteem, and the programme can be delivered as part of the PHSE curriculum.
Massage in Schools has seen success around the world, tackling issues such as exam anxiety, peer pressure and improved homelife once the school day has ended.
The Wellbeing Crew would welcome the opportunity to talk to Head Teachers or School Governors about how we can help your school on the path to a calmer future.
