Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing our thoughts, feelings, actions, stress management, relationships, and decision-making.

Depression:

Depression is a mental illness that affects people of all ages. Despite sharing the same symptoms as adults, depression in children often goes unnoticed and untreated. Children who are depressed may be misunderstood as being shy, difficult, or misbehaved.

Signs and Symptoms you may be depressed:

1. Sad or irritable most of the time
2. Hopeless and worthless
3. Feeling emptiness or numb inside
4. Changes in appetite
5. Changes in behavior and possible aggression toward self or others
6. Intrusive negative thoughts
7. Feeling tired or fatigue
8. Crying often
9. Lack of motivation
10. Loss of interest of things you use to like
11. Loss of interest in friends and activities.
12. Uninterested in socializing, playing, and other activities
13. School difficulties such as failing grades
14. Difficulty Sleeping or sleeping to much
15. Poor concentration and focus
16. Social withdrawal
17. Low self-esteem
18. Excessive guilt and worrying
19. Thoughts of being tired of life or not wanting to live

Anxiety:

Anxiety is a mental and physical reaction to perceived threats. It protects us from danger, and focuses our attention on problems. But when anxiety is too severe, or occurs too frequently, it can become debilitating.

Symptoms of Anxiety:

1. Uncontrollable Worry
2. Poor Concentration
3. Excessive Nervousness
4. Avoidance of Fear Sleep Problems
5. Upset Stomach
6. Muscle Tension
7. Increased Heart Rate

Body Image

Body image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings you have about your body. Body image may range between positive and negative experiences. At times a person can feel positive or negative or a combination of both. Body image is influenced by internal and external factors. For instance personality and social environment.

Two Approaches for being more accepting of your body

1. Body positivity is all about loving and accepting your body just the way it is. It means understanding that everyone's body is different and unique, and that's what makes us special. Instead of focusing on how our bodies look compared to others, body positivity encourages us to appreciate and celebrate our own individual shapes and sizes.

How to adapt Body Positivity:

• Be Kind to Yourself
• Celebrate Differences
• Positive Self-Talk
• Healthy Choices
• Ignore Unrealistic Standards
• Support Others
• Speak up

*Remember, body positivity is about creating a positive and accepting mindset about your own body and the bodies of those around you. It's a journey of self-love, appreciation, and kindness.

2. Body neutrality = Think of it like this: Instead of constantly thinking about whether our bodies are pretty or not, body neutrality encourages us to think about what our bodies can achieve. For example, our legs help us run, our arms help us hug, and our brain helps us learn new things. It's like shifting the focus from appearance to functionality.

How to Adapt Body Neutrality:

• Discover Your Body’s Abilities
• Appreciate Functionality
• Positive Self-Talk
• Value Everyone’s Abilities
• Healthy Choices for Functionality
• Ignore Unrealistic Comparisons
• Encourage Others

*In a nutshell, body neutrality is about appreciating your body for its capabilities rather than getting caught up in how it looks. It's a positive way to shift your focus towards the amazing things your body can accomplish every day.

Stress and Transitioning to the Next School Year

What is transition?

Transition is the process of adjusting to change in our life. These changes can occur when moving from one school to another, having a new teacher, moving into a new home/country, and separation of friends or family, ect.

Moving from one grade level to the next can be difficult for students and can cause feelings of anxiety and a sense of loss. This transition can be a significant milestone to the student’s academic journey, as it involves not only a change in environment but also an increase in academic demands, social dynamics, and expectations.

Transitioning to the next school year can cause stress to many individuals due to the loss of familiarity, loss of control, loss of identity, social anxiety, and even the fear of failure. It can be overwhelming for students to begin a new grade level in a room filled with unfamiliar faces and new educators. Below are some activities that students can do to help relieve stress.

Summer Stress Relieving Activities

5 Senses Nature Walk

By observing the environment with all their senses, children build new brain pathways! That brain development provides a strong foundation for life-long learning. You're also working on a child's motor skills, like running, balancing, climbing above and under things. Five Senses Nature Walk

Breathing exercises -

Breathing exercises help you learn to breathe deeply. Breathing deeply can help you feel calm and relaxed. Feeling calm and relaxed helps you make good decisions and handle stressful situations. Below is an article with various breathing exercises you can try at home with your child. Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids