Week WC 26th June

Mental Wellbeing When people say mental health, they are talking about how people think and feel, and how they are coping with things that are happening in their life. It is completely normal to feel sad, angry or worried from time to time. But when those feelings won't go away and they start to really affect day-to-day life, that is when there can be a problem. Many people can find it difficult to open up when they are struggling with their mental health. Discuss the fact that anyone can have moments of issues with mental health. It can affect everyone. Can they name any famous people who have had these issues, why they might have occurred and how they got through it? Here are some links on mental health issues: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/39383031 http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/39383026 http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z2smy4j

5 Ways to improve Mental wellbeing… Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. Be active – you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". It can positively Which do you feel you do well? What area could you improve upon? How?

Hydrate Why do you need water? Your body is nearly two-thirds water and so it is really important that you consume enough fluid to stay hydrated and healthy. If you don’t get enough fluid you may feel tired, get headaches and not perform at your best. You also get water from the food you eat – on average food provides about 20% of your total fluid intake. How much do you need? The amount of fluid you need depends on many things including the weather, how much physical activity you do and your age, but the Eatwell Guide suggest 6-8 glasses of fluid per day. This is on top of the water provided by food you eat. Does it matter which drinks you choose? When you choose your drinks it is important to be aware that although they all provide water and some also contain essential vitamins and minerals, they may also provide energy (calories). These calories contribute to your daily calorie intake in the same way as those from the foods you eat. It is also important to look after your teeth, and consuming sugar-containing drinks too often can potentially harm your teeth. It is also important to be aware that some drinks are acidic (e.g. fruit juice and carbonated drinks) and that this may cause dental erosion (damage to tooth enamel) if they are consumed frequently. Ask which drinks students have the most, and the positive and negative aspects of these drinks? Think about which foods are best used to hydrate. Does school encourage hydration? How could the school further encourage this?

Sleeping for Health 5 Reasons for getting better sleep… Better health. Getting a good night's sleep won't grant you immunity from disease. But study after study has found a link between insufficient sleep and some serious health problems, such as heart disease, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity. Less pain. If you have acute pain from a recent injury getting enough sleep may actually make you hurt less. Many studies have shown a link between sleep loss and lower pain threshold. Lower risk of injury. Sleeping enough might actually keep you safer. The Institute of Medicine estimates that one out of five auto accidents in the U.S. results from drowsy driving… that's about 1 million crashes a year! Better mood. Getting enough sleep won't guarantee a sunny disposition. But you have probably noticed that when you're exhausted, you're more likely to be cranky. That's not all. Not getting enough sleep affects your emotional regulation,. When you're overtired, you're more likely to snap at someone, or burst into tears, or start laughing uncontrollably. Clearer thinking. Have you ever woken up after a bad night's sleep, feeling fuzzy and easily confused. Sleep loss affects how you think. It impairs your cognition, your attention, and your decision-making. Studies have found that people who are sleep-deprived are substantially worse at solving logic or math problems than when they're well-rested. How many hours do you sleep? Is that enough? What stops you from sleeping more?