Mental Health
This word describes a feeling of intense worry or nervousness about things that might happen.
Anxiety
This happens when your body needs more and more of a substance to feel the same effect it used to.
Tolerance
This legal stimulant found in coffee, tea, and energy drinks can speed up the heart rate and make it hard to fall asleep.
Caffeine
This trusted adult at school is someone students can speak to confidentially about mental health concerns or personal problems.
Guidance Counsellor
True or False: Vaping is completely safe because it does not contain tobacco leaves.
False— vaping still contains harmful chemicals, including nicotine.
You need all three of these types of health to be overall 'healthy'
physical, mental, emotional
When a person keeps using a substance even though it is causing serious harm to their health, relationships, or school life, this is the term used
Addiction
This highly addictive chemical is found in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping products, and is very harmful to the lungs.
Nicotine
Getting enough of this every night — about 9 to 11 hours for Grade 5 and 6 students — is one of the most powerful things you can do for your mental health.
Sleep
These are drugs that a doctor legally prescribes to a patient to help treat pain, anxiety, or other health conditions.
Prescription Drugs
Going for a walk, drawing, or talking to a trusted adult are all examples of these — healthy ways to deal with big feelings and stress.
Coping Strategies
These are the uncomfortable feelings — like headaches, shaking, or crankiness — that can happen when someone who uses a substance suddenly stops.
Withdrawal
This common substance is found in beer, wine, and other drinks for adults. It is legal for adults but illegal and harmful for children and youth.
Depressant
This healthy coping strategy involves writing down your thoughts and feelings in a notebook instead of turning to a harmful substance.
This word describes a substance that is against the law to produce, sell, or possess in Canada.
Illegal or controlled substance
This part of your overall health includes your thoughts, feelings, and ability to handle stress — it is just as important as physical health.
Mental Health
This is when someone feels like they need a substance just to get through the day or feel normal.
Dependence
Using these products — which look like pens and create a flavoured vapour — may seem harmless, but they still contain nicotine and other chemicals that harm your lungs.
Vaping products or e-cigarettes
This describes the positive influence friends can have on each other to make healthy and safe choices — the helpful opposite of negative peer pressure.
Positive peer influence
When someone smokes near you and you breathe in their smoke without choosing to, this is called this. It can still be very harmful to your health.
Second hand smoke
When someone feels very sad, has no energy, and loses interest in things they used to enjoy for a long time, they may have this.
Depression
A child or teenager is still growing, which is one big reason why using substances like alcohol or tobacco is especially harmful at a young age. Which part of the body is the most effected by substances at a young age?
The Brain
This chemical is naturally made in your brain and gives you a happy feeling. Addictive substances trick your brain into releasing too much of it, which is part of why they are so hard to stop using.
Dopamine
This free Canadian service, available by phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by text at 686868, gives young people confidential mental health support anytime.
Kid's Help phone
According to Canadian health guidelines, using cannabis before this age is especially risky because the brain is still actively developing.
Age 25