Mental health basics
How one thinks, feels, and acts
Name one healthy way to manage stress.
Deep breathing, exercise, listening to music, or talking to someone.
A teenager stays up late scrolling on their phone and feels exhausted at school the next day. What healthy habit could help?
Reduce screen time before bed and aim for 8–10 hours of sleep each night.
Name one trusted person a student could talk to about their mental health.
A trusted family member, school counsellor, teacher, nurse, or another trusted adult.
A student is usually outgoing and gets good grades, but recently they have become quiet, stopped participating in class, and seem exhausted. Their friends assume everything is fine because they still smile sometimes. What should their friends understand?
Someone can struggle with their mental health even if they sometimes seem happy. Changes in behaviour, energy, and participation may be signs that the student needs support
How can mindfulness help?
A student skips lunch because they are busy with homework and feels tired during class. How could balanced eating help?
Regular, balanced meals can provide energy and support concentration and overall well-being.
A student feels embarrassed about talking to a school counsellor because they worry about being judged. What would you tell them?
Seeking help is a healthy and courageous step. Everyone deserves support without judgment.
A student has been arguing with friends, sleeping poorly, and losing motivation at school. They believe mental health only affects emotions. What other areas of their life might be affected?
Their physical health, concentration, behaviour, relationships, school performance, and self-esteem may also be affected.
A student feels overwhelmed by exams. Name one healthy action they could take.
Break studying into smaller tasks, take breaks, or ask for help
A student compares their appearance, grades, and social life to people online. They start feeling less confident, stop enjoying their hobbies, and believe everyone else has a better life. What two self-care strategies could help, and why?
They could limit or curate their social media use and reconnect with activities they enjoy or strengths they value. These steps may reduce unhelpful comparisons and support self-esteem.
A classmate says they are struggling with their mental health, and another student responds, “Just get over it.” What would be a more supportive response?
Acknowledge their feelings, listen actively, and remind them
Name two things that can affect a person's mental health.
Examples include stress, relationships, sleep, school, family, and life changes.
Why can avoiding sleep to study all night make stress worse?
Lack of sleep can affect concentration, mood, memory, and coping.
A student notices that when they do not sleep enough, they become more irritable and argue with their friends. How could better sleep support their mental health?
Adequate sleep can improve mood, concentration, energy, and how they respond to stressful situations.
Your friend shares a personal problem with you. Instead of listening, you immediately tell them what to do. What could you do differently?
Listen without interrupting, acknowledge their feelings, and ask what kind of support they need.
A student says, 'I don't have a mental health problem because I can still go to school and hang out with friends.' Why is this assumption incorrect?
People can experience mental health challenges while continuing their usual activities. Struggling is not always obvious to others.
Before a presentation, a student notices their heart racing and their hands shaking. They start thinking, 'I'm going to embarrass myself.' What could they do to manage their stress in the moment?
Use slow breathing or grounding and replace the negative thought with a more realistic one, such as 'I can do my best even if I'm nervous.'
A student gets enough sleep, eats balanced meals, and exercises regularly but continues to feel sad and overwhelmed. Does this mean they are doing self-care incorrectly? What should they consider?
No. Self-care looks different for everyone and cannot solve every problem. They should consider reaching out to a trusted person or mental health professional for additional support.
A friend shares something personal with you. You want to help, but you also know you cannot handle everything on your own. What is the difference between supporting a friend and being responsible for fixing their problems?
You can listen, show kindness, and help them connect with support, but you are not responsible for solving everything yourself. Involving a trusted adult is appropriate when safety or serious concerns arise.