Mental Health Basics
What is mental health?
How we think, feel, and cope with life.
What does DBT stand for?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Name one emotion.
Any valid emotion (anger, sadness, joy, fear, etc.)
Name one healthy coping skill.
Music, walking, talking, drawing, deep breathing, etc.
Your friend ignores your text. You feel upset. What is happening emotionally?
Feeling rejected, sad, angry, etc.
True or false: Everyone has mental health.
True
DBT helps people with what kinds of problems?
Big emotions, stress, relationships, impulsive behavior
What is the difference between emotions and thoughts?
Emotions are feelings, thoughts are what we tell ourselves
What does “coping” mean?
Handling or dealing with stress or emotions
Someone insults you at school. What is a common reaction?
Anger, embarrassment, sadness
Name one thing that can affect mental health.
Stress, school, family, friends, sleep, trauma, etc
True or false: DBT teaches skills for real life.
True
What emotion might you feel when someone betrays you?
Hurt, anger, sadness (any reasonable answer)
Name one thing that helps calm your body.
Breathing, cold water, movement, etc.
You feel overwhelmed and want to explode. What is one safe thing you could do?
Walk away, breathe, talk to someone, etc.
What is anxiety?
Feeling worried, nervous, or scared about something.
DBT is especially helpful for what type of emotions?
Very intense or overwhelming emotions
What happens when emotions get too intense?
It can be harder to think clearly or make good decisions
True or false: Avoiding problems always makes them better.
False
Why is reacting immediately sometimes a problem?
You might say/do something you regret
Is mental health the same as mental illness?
No — mental health is for everyone, mental illness is when symptoms are strong and ongoing.
Name one DBT skill area (no need to explain).
Distress tolerance, emotion regulation, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness
True or false: All emotions are “bad.”
False
What is the goal of coping skills?
To help you handle emotions safely and make better choices
What does “pause before reacting” help with?
Making better choices and not acting on impulse