1. Mental Health Grade 11

2. What do you think about mental health? Brainstorm ideas of the kinds of things that keep people mentally healthy. Brainstorm ideas of the kinds of things that keep people mentally healthy.

3. Ways to keep yourself mentally healthy Think positive Think positive Organize your time Organize your time Value yourself Value yourself Eat right and exercise Eat right and exercise Try new things Try new things Get enough sleep Get enough sleep Make plans Make plans Set realistic goals and work towards them Set realistic goals and work towards them Reward yourself Reward yourself Share concerns and worries with friends and family Share concerns and worries with friends and family

4. What do we mean by stress? Imagine that you are about to explain to an alien what human beings mean by stress. With a partner, develop a definition, e.g. “stress is when…” Imagine that you are about to explain to an alien what human beings mean by stress. With a partner, develop a definition, e.g. “stress is when…” Write your definition on the board and notice what stress means to different people. Write your definition on the board and notice what stress means to different people.

5. Stress Defined - Note Stress is the effect of an event on your mind and body. These can be both helpful or harmful and stress can either be positive or negative. Stress is the effect of an event on your mind and body. These can be both helpful or harmful and stress can either be positive or negative. Positive Stress (Eustress) – Things that cause stress but that you are looking forward to. Eg) Championship Game, Getting Married Positive Stress (Eustress) – Things that cause stress but that you are looking forward to. Eg) Championship Game, Getting Married Negative Stress (Distress) – Things that cause stress that you would rather not have happen. Eg) Losing a job, Illness, Negative Stress (Distress) – Things that cause stress that you would rather not have happen. Eg) Losing a job, Illness,

6. Note: Stressors=things that cause stress Physical – injury, illness, fatigues, hunger, lack of shelter Physical – injury, illness, fatigues, hunger, lack of shelter Social – arguments, rejection, embarrassment Social – arguments, rejection, embarrassment Intellectual – mental fatigue, lack of understanding Intellectual – mental fatigue, lack of understanding Emotional – death of a close friend or family member Emotional – death of a close friend or family member Spiritual – guilt, moral conflict, lack of sense of purpose Spiritual – guilt, moral conflict, lack of sense of purpose

7. Stressors cont’d Divide into groups of 4 or 5. Brainstorm the following question: “What are some stresses and challenges people around your age face?” Divide into groups of 4 or 5. Brainstorm the following question: “What are some stresses and challenges people around your age face?” Record your list on a piece of paper. Record your list on a piece of paper.

8. Coping Strategies Share examples of things you like to do when you feel stressed or overworked. Write down at least one of the coping strategies discussed. Share examples of things you like to do when you feel stressed or overworked. Write down at least one of the coping strategies discussed. Coping Cards activity Coping Cards activity Different situations may call for different coping strategies. There is no right or wrong answer. Different situations may call for different coping strategies. There is no right or wrong answer.

9. Stigma – What does it mean? What are some of the negative things you have heard about people with mental illness? What are some of the negative things you have heard about people with mental illness? What are some of the positive things your have heard? What are some of the positive things your have heard? Why do you think people with mental illness are stigmatized? Why do you think people with mental illness are stigmatized? What kinds of factors have contributed to changing public attitudes around some of these conditions or issues? What kinds of factors have contributed to changing public attitudes around some of these conditions or issues? What do you think influences perceptions about mental illness? What do you think influences perceptions about mental illness? How do you think stigma affects the lives of people with mental illness? How do you think stigma affects the lives of people with mental illness?