Strategies To Improve Your Child’s Mental Wellbeing
It is the month of October, this means more than just Halloween and Oktoberfest. This month holds one of the most important days of the world’s calendar, the World Health Organisation recognises the 10th day of the month as World Mental Health Day. Locally in New South Wales, this is an active, month-long campaign created by Wayahead throughout October, to combat the ever-present issues facing Australians today.
Some of the most common mental illnesses in young people include; Anxiety, Depression, Stress and Attention Deficit Disorders.
From early intervention campaigns to community support initiatives, this day aims to illuminate and remove the stigma surrounding mental illnesses affecting our population, particularly in young people. Here are 3 ways you can support your child’s mental health status:
Reinforce positive physical activity behaviours
In maintaining a healthy relationship with one’s body through physical activity, the mind receives a direct boost of the neurochemicals; Dopamine and Serotonin. These are part of the reward system which is triggered following the completion of activities such as: outdoor walks, yoga, a sports game etc. and are proven to serve many functions such as:
Boost your mood
Improve sleep and Energy levels throughout the day
Serve to distract or block you from daily worries
Improved sense of well-being
A Canadian study from the Journal of Adolescent Health showed students who played school sports between grades 8-12 experienced less stress and depression as young adults. It was also shown to provide valuable confidence, critical-thinking and judgement skills, as well as increased brain function.
Forming these behaviours at a young age; a positive association with physical activity is created, coupled with an enjoyable aspect to self care.
Improve Mindfulness
Mindfulness serves to ground oneself by paying full attention to what is going on in you and outside you, moment by moment, and without judgement. This could be as simple as using visualisation, meditation, active self-awareness or combination of all three on a daily basis. Everyone, not just children can benefit from the focus and balance this creates for everyday life! According to one study from NeuroImage, meditation practice has been shown not only to benefit higher-order brain functions, but also to alter brain activity as well as emotional regulation.
By introducing our next generation to positive Social Emotional Learning at an early age, a routine can be formed to encompass this behaviour and help children improve how they self-regulate and cope with mental illness moving to adulthood.
Encourage Positive Relationships/Friendships
Building positive relationships with peers is crucial in order to develop valuable self confidence and to create a support group which both serve individuals well when dealing with life’s ups and downs. One study by researchers at University of Virginia suggests there could be a direct link between students having close friends and an improvement in long term mental health for these individuals - life is simply better when you are surrounded by loved ones.
From your home, to every home around the world these strategies will build the resilience and emotional intelligence to take control of one’s emotional and social wellbeing. For young people, this empowerment and positive sense of self is integral to their success moving toward adulthood.
CONSULT AN EDUCATION ADVISOR
Want to learn more about how to implement these best practices in teaching your students to identify, understand and manage their emotions? Book a FREE wellbeing consultation with us today!