What is mental health?...........................................Page 4

What are the warning signs?...............................Page 6

What is happening in my brain?.........................Page 8

List of emotion words.............................................Page 10

Write it out ...................................................................Page 11

Teacher's Advice .......................................................Page 12

Ways you can stay mentally healthy..............Page 14

Books about mental Health..................................Page 16

Yoga for your mental Health..............................Page 17

Table of Contents

Mental Heath: What is it?

Our mental health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Even though we cannot see our mental health, we certainly can feel it. Whether it’s positive or negative, our mental health is just as important as our physical health.

-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. (2015)

What are the warning signs?

·       Can't eat or sleep

·       Can't perform daily tasks like going to school

·       Don't want to hang out with your friends or family

·       Don't want to do things you usually enjoy

·       Fight a lot with family and friends

·       Feel like you can't control your emotions

·       Have low or no energy

·       Feel hopeless

·       Feel numb or like nothing matters

·       Can't stop thinking about certain things or memories

·       Feel confused, forgetful, edgy, angry, upset, worried, or scared

·       Want to harm yourself or others

If you or someone you know are displaying these signs, take it seriously and talk to an adult you trust!

Can we talk?

Is everything okay? Do you want to talk about it?

What is happening in my brain?

The three parts of an emotional reaction:

The second part affects our thoughts. If you’re feeling sad, you may begin thinking about other sad moments, or if you’re happy you may think about other happy times

The third part of an emotional reaction affects our behavior. If you’re angry, you may want to yell or fight, if you’re happy you might laugh and be cheerful, and if you’re sad you may want to cry or be alone.

The first part is when your brain reacts by changing what is happening in your body. If your angry you may feel your heartrate go up or begin shaking. Emotional reactions can also cause muscle movement. If you’re happy you smile or laugh.

Sometimes, it can be frustrating to not be able to express exactly how we're feeling. Take a look at this word bank and look at all the different ways we can feel.

Write it out!

Use the emotional word bank to find the right words that best describe your feelings.