Promoting Health & Well-Being
Published on Jul 31, 2019
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Untitled Slide
Here are some different areas that are key to overall wellness. All these keys are interconnected.
Let's define what they are:
- Sensory: our 5 senses
- Spiritual: our understanding of or connection with something bigger than ourselves
- Environmental: the environments we choose to be in or find ourselves in can be positive or negative
- Relational: connection with other people
- Intellectual: ability to think clearly, logic and reasoning, organization, creativity, etc.
- Nutritional: what we put in our bodies to meet our body's need for nourishment
- Emotional: the feeling and expressing of our emotions
- Physical: our physical body- skin, muscles, bones, immune system, etc.
Let's define what they are:
- Sensory: our 5 senses
- Spiritual: our understanding of or connection with something bigger than ourselves
- Environmental: the environments we choose to be in or find ourselves in can be positive or negative
- Relational: connection with other people
- Intellectual: ability to think clearly, logic and reasoning, organization, creativity, etc.
- Nutritional: what we put in our bodies to meet our body's need for nourishment
- Emotional: the feeling and expressing of our emotions
- Physical: our physical body- skin, muscles, bones, immune system, etc.
What are signs each area of wellness isn't full for someone?
Whiteboard/ giant post-it activity with 2 columns- low vs. high for each area of wellness- students come up with ideas.
Photo by manu schwendener
How well do I feel today?
Fill in each wellness wedge to how well each aspect of your wellness is doing right now. For example (show them instructor example (allow 5 minutes).
Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi
High stress makes it hard to:
- remember non-stressful things (like facts for your history test)
- focus and pay attention to non-threatening things
- problem solve and plan
- regulate your emotions
- trust people and have healthy relationships
When areas of our wellness aren't as complete as we wish they were, it can cause stress. The longer areas of our wellness are low, the higher the stress our brain feels and it starts to affect the ability to affect how our brain functions. We also start to think about the world as a dangerous place which makes us feel more threatened and like others can't be trusted.
Photo by VinothChandar
Self-advocacy is the ability to identify your needs, take action to take care of yourself, and communicate your needs to others.
In order to combat these negative effects of stress and to improve our wellness, it is important to self-advocate. Self advocacy is the ability to identify your needs, take action to take care of yourself, and communicate your needs to others.
Take a minute to look at the areas of your wellness that are not as high as you want and think about changes you could make to take better care of yourself. For example (use instructor's).
Take a minute to look at the areas of your wellness that are not as high as you want and think about changes you could make to take better care of yourself. For example (use instructor's).
Photo by Dominic's pics
Advocating for Yourself
- Pay attention to physical, emotional, & cognitive signs your wellness is low.
- Do things to improve your ability to handle stress like mindfulness & exercise
- Assess your relationships: reduce those that tear you down & increase ones that lift you up
- Communicate your needs to trusted friends, adults, and professionals.
SO, to advocate for ourselves, we need to first identify when an area of wellness isn't as high as we need it to be and signs we might be experiencing stress. Then, we can think about things we can do to take care of ourselves. As strong as we are, not all of the things that affect our wellness are in our own control, so sometimes we need support from others. To do this, we need to try to reduce relationships in our lives that harm us or tear our wellness down and increase supportive relationships that help us feel loved and important. Once we identify people who could support us, we can communicate our needs and get additional support.
Photo by Jason Leung
When should a person consider therapy?
Although relationships are healing and the support of friends or trusted adults can help us endure difficult times, sometimes we need to reach out to mental health professionals. What are some examples of a "mental health professional?"
Here are some ways you can know if it is time for you or someone you care about to seek professional help.
Here are some ways you can know if it is time for you or someone you care about to seek professional help.
Supportive Relationships
Research says that supportive relationships are one of the most powerful ways to protect someone the harmful effects of stress.
Friends are critical, especially in adolescence. However, no teen should feel like they have to do everything on their own or without the help of trusted adults.
Take a minute and think about the people in your life who build you up and could help you in times of stress or growth. Think of people who you know will be there because they've been there for you in the past, but also of others who support you without being asked and would likely come to your aid if you asked them to. They may each help in different ways or in similar ways. They may include your family members, friends, your friends' family members, neighbors, past or current teachers, coaches, school counselors, religious leaders, club leaders, community members, or mental health professionals. Write these people down on your sheet.
There are also hotlines you can call if you are unsure of who to talk to in your life about an issue. TeenCentral.com has a list of free teen hotlines on different topics.
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Resources:
https://changingmindsnow.org/science/the-power-of-a-caring-adult
https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/resili...
Friends are critical, especially in adolescence. However, no teen should feel like they have to do everything on their own or without the help of trusted adults.
Take a minute and think about the people in your life who build you up and could help you in times of stress or growth. Think of people who you know will be there because they've been there for you in the past, but also of others who support you without being asked and would likely come to your aid if you asked them to. They may each help in different ways or in similar ways. They may include your family members, friends, your friends' family members, neighbors, past or current teachers, coaches, school counselors, religious leaders, club leaders, community members, or mental health professionals. Write these people down on your sheet.
There are also hotlines you can call if you are unsure of who to talk to in your life about an issue. TeenCentral.com has a list of free teen hotlines on different topics.
----------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
https://changingmindsnow.org/science/the-power-of-a-caring-adult
https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/resili...
Photo by Helena Lopes
Barriers to Self-Advocacy
[Ask for help 5 minutes]
Discussion questions:
- Sometimes people focus more on the needs of others than their own needs- why do you think that is? How can you make sure you are checking on yourself?
- Asking for help is something people are often ashamed to do- why do you think that is?
- When are times it is important to ask for help and why?
Discussion questions:
- Sometimes people focus more on the needs of others than their own needs- why do you think that is? How can you make sure you are checking on yourself?
- Asking for help is something people are often ashamed to do- why do you think that is?
- When are times it is important to ask for help and why?
Photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia
Advocating for Others
- Taking care of yourself so you can respond calmly & respectfully to others.
- Look for signs others might not be doing well & ask how they are.
- Help them self-advocate.
- Intervene or report if you see bullying or relationship aggression at your school.
- Tell trusted adults when others need help but don't want ask for it themselves.
Photo by Josh Calabrese
Being an Upstander
Direct, Distract, Delegate!
Sometimes you may actually witness a situation that is turning violent or an act of violence between two partners. One of the best times to handle or stop violence is RIGHT THEN. Whether it is a friend or someone you know (or even a stranger), don't be a bystander, take action.
Here is a video that helps describe what you could do if you witness a situation where people are being disrespectful or physically intimidating:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNDZfZ7KYNs&feature=youtu.be
DISCUSSION (following video):
How is an upstander different from a bystander?
What are some examples of the 3 D's?
Here is a video that helps describe what you could do if you witness a situation where people are being disrespectful or physically intimidating:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNDZfZ7KYNs&feature=youtu.be
DISCUSSION (following video):
How is an upstander different from a bystander?
What are some examples of the 3 D's?
Photo by A. Lindell Photography
Telling Trusted Adults
Even if there are friends who ask you not to talk to adults about things that are going on, there are certain problems that no teen should face alone or without adults to help them. If someone is hurting you or someone you know, if one of your friends is hurting themselves or is thinking about it, find an adult, whether it's a parent or another relative, a teacher, a coach, a religious leader, a counselor, to talk to.
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny
