Mental Health Awareness
the practice of being present in the moment, observing your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings as they happen without becoming overwhelmed
What is mindfulness
Three healthy coping skills
What is journaling, talking to a friend/loved one, and listening to music
It's a healthy coping skill to yell at someone when you are angry
What is false
This is because it's an unhealthy coping skill to cause harm to others, whether that's emotional or physical harm.
Three examples of mindfulness coping skills
What is deep breathing, meditation, and grounding exercises
Define Catastrophizing
What is a cognitive distortion in which you expect the worst possible outcome in a situation, leading to heightened anxiety/fear and suffering
Define stressor
What is any external stimulus or event seen as causing stress to someone
Define unhealthy coping skill/mechanism
What is behaviors used to manage stress/emotions that provide temporary relief but worsen the problem leading to long-term harm like addiction, depression, and relationship issues
The 5-4-3-2-1 method is not a mindfulness technique
What is False
This is a grounding technique using the 5 senses (sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste)
Three examples of distraction coping skills
What is crossword puzzles, watching tv, and reading a book
Define stigma of mental health
What is the negative stereotype (exaggerated idea), attitude, and discrimination against people with mental health conditions
A condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others.
What is mental illness
Three unhealthy coping skills
What is substance abuse behaviors, avoidant behaviors (isolation, procrastination), and self-harm behaviors
Only adults can develop depression/anxiety
What is False
Because anyone can develop these mental health conditions regardless of age, gender, race, or background
Define self-soothing coping skills
What is techniques that utilize your five senses (touch, smell, taste, sound, sight), thoughts, or movements to calm your nervous system during distress
Define cognitive distortions
What is irrational, exaggerated thought patterns that twist reality, making you see situations more negatively than they are, fueling anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem
Define positive mental health
What is being in a state of social, emotional, and psychological well-being in which you can handle life's stressors, work productively, form fulfilling relationships, and enjoy life.
(this goes beyond absence of mental illness, to actively functioning and feeling well)
The mental health term for changing how you view a situation to find a more positive meaning
What is Reframing
Anyone can experience mental health issues
What is true
Because, just like physical health, it fluctuates and needs care!
Three self-care coping skill activities
What is taking a bubble bath, gardening, and mindful eating
Consequences of using unhealthy coping skills
What is loss of relationships, addiction, worsened mental health, physical health problems, and decreased self-esteem
True or False: Medication is the only treatment method that works for mental health problems
What is false
While medication is a helpful tool, combining it with counseling/therapy works to alleviate mental health issues
A four step breathing technique to calm the mind and body
What is box breathing
This technique involves inhaling for four counts, holding for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and holding again for four counts. It helps to reset the nervous system and reduce stress.
panic attacks and anxiety attacks are the same thing
What is false
This is because panic attacks are sudden, intense urges of fear with physical symptoms peaking quickly without a clear trigger. Anxiety attacks are prolonged build-up of worry, stress, and unease with less intense physical signs tied to a triggering stressor
Three examples of emotional awareness coping skills
What is an emotion wheel, writing in a journal, and painting a picture
What is a cognitive technique where you challenge negative thinking patterns through viewing situations more realistically and replacing them with positive alternatives