Be In Your Mate’s Corner Section Title Be In Your Mate’s Corner Mental health and me Length of the assembly: 10 minutes

Did you know? Did you know? Anyone can experience a mental health problem, regardless of age, gender, social background, race or religion Last week we talked about being in your mates corner but it is also important to make sure that we are in our own.

Put your hand up if… You have mental health You have physical health You have ever felt happy You have ever felt sad You have ever felt tired You have ever felt excited You are missing the summer EXERCISE: Ask the room: Put your hand up if you have mental health? (may not have very many or some may be hesitant) then ask the other questions. At the end of the exercise state that these things all make up our mental health. We all have mental health like we all have physical health, and like our physical health we can have days that we are feeling better than others.

Mental health and me “Learn to train your mind as well as your body. Mental strength is just as important as physical strength.” We all have mental health, yet many of us don’t take care of our mental health as we do our physical health. And just like with physical health, there are things we can do to improve and maintain it. Cristiano Ronaldo ???? Just like our physical health it is important to look after our mental health. Today we’re going to look at some ways we can do this and you can have a think about what might work best for you. Which famous footballer said this quote?

1. Diet Food can affect your mood! “Drinking water is so important. I eat regularly. I love fish, especially the Portuguese dish bacalhau à braz.” There is a link between what we eat and how we feel so it’s important to have a healthy, balanced diet for both your body and mind. Cristiano Ronaldo ???? Eating the wrong kinds of food can make you feel lethargic, tired and has been found to be linked to low mood.

2. Exercise Exercise is not just good for your body, it is great for your mind too! “I fit in exercise when I can. If you get into a routine then it makes it easier as it will become a habit.” There is evidence to show that exercise can help raise self-esteem, help sleep, improve memory and concentration, take your mind off negative thoughts and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Cristiano Ronaldo ????

3. Take time to relax Regular relaxation is great for your mental health. Whether it is listening to music, reading a good book, watching a relaxing film or doing some breathing exercises, making time for you is important.

4. Quality Sleep A good night’s sleep matters more than you think. Turning off your TV, phone and computer before you go to bed and getting into a regular sleep routine can be really good for your mental health.

5. Share what is bothering you Sharing what’s bothering you can help to make it feel more manageable. “He gets very sad when he loses. He calls me every time and I tell him to be patient” Chat to a friend, parent, teacher or someone you trust, just talking something through can really help sort it out in your head. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mum ???? And a final thought from Ronaldo’s mum

What could you do? How do you look after your mental health? What could you do to look after it better? Ask them to discuss in pairs or let people sit and think about it for a minute.

Mental health and me Mental health problems are really common and 1 in 10 young people will experience them this year. If you have tried ways to improve your mental health and things are not getting better or if you are worried at all about how you are feeling: Speak to a parent, teacher or your GP Speak to a responsible adult who you trust Call Childline – 0800 1111 This could potentially be a triggering topic and you may have people approach you after the session. It is worth letting your safeguarding lead know that you are broaching this topic.

Thank You Section Title Find out more: www.time-to-change.org.uk End of presentation