Understanding Mental Health
Mental health encompasses a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being which significantly impacts how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health influences how people cope with stress, manage relationships, and make choices.
Two Ways to Foster
Positive Mental
Health for Students:
1
Practicing mindfulness
2
Honing one's SEL skills
What is Mindfulness?
There are many definitions of mindfulness but essentially mindfulness is being aware of or bringing awareness to the moment in time, deliberately and without judging the experience. It is all about being in the moment or being in the now.
Benefits:
There are many definitions of mindfulness but essentially mindfulness is being aware of or bringing awareness to the moment in time, deliberately and without judging the experience. It is all about being in the moment or being in the now.
There are many physical and psychological benefits of practicing mindfulness. Most common are:
- Increased experience of calm and relaxation
- Higher levels of energy
- Increased self confidence and self acceptance
- Reduces stress, anxiety and depression
- Improved focus and attention
- Enhances emotional regulation
Our Student Services Managers
Dr. Janet Vasquez
Shayuan Sealey
Strategies:
Breathing is an essential component of mindfulness and there are many ways to practice mindful breathing. One simple way is by using the Just Breathe 4/7/8 technique.
Parents & SEL Skills
Parents can help foster SEL learning by creating a supportive environment for open communication and by actively engaging in promoting empathy, self-awareness ad responsible decision making. Below are a few simple yet impactful techniques:
Practice active listening
Encourage emotional awareness
Gratitude exercises
Journaling
Have open conversations about consequences
Helpful Resources:
Books:
- Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
- The Miracle Morning for Parents & Families by Hal Erod & Mike & Lindsay McCarthy
- Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement, and more by Mallika Chopra
- The Mindfulness Journal for Teens by Jennie Marie Battistin
Apps:
- Headspace
- Calm
Videos:
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