Taking Care Of Your Mental Health

'These days it can be overwhelming with the constant updates on Covid-19 about the do's and don'ts. It's important to take each day one at a time, remembering that we need to look after both the physical and mental health of our family.'

This was the last line of yesterdays post 'Activities About Germs For Kids: Making It Meaningful And Fun'.

Mental health is integral to living a healthy, balanced life. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act; playing an important part in the health of our relationships, and allowing us to adapt to changes in our lives and cope with adversity. Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in our day to day activities.

Just like physical health complications though no one is immune to mental health problems.

Today we will be providing activities, tips, and mental health teleservices for all ages.

Activities that promote mindfulness and/or stress relief:

• Make your own stress balls https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/archives/how-to-make-sensory-balls

• Create your own Calming kit https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/04/what-to-put-in-a-calm-down-kit-for-kids.html

• Colour some coloring pages http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/relax https://helpoutreach2484.wixsite.com/website/post/inupiaq-indigenous-colouring-pages

• Painting to classical music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLrpTDACFMc

• Reading together as a family or solo reading if your child wants some space https://www.reading-rewards.com/blog/how-reading-can-help-kids-relieve-stress/ https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/reading-stress-relief

• Distress with some yoga

• Try this focusing challange https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/299982025181036592/

• Make your very own scream box https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/469289223673020155/

• Practice calming breathing by blowing bubbles or you can make your own pinwheel to blow on http://www.leslietryon.com/3dcolorcutout/makepinw/makepinwheel.html

• Also try these 8 fun breathing exercises for kids {Printable} https://childhood101.com/fun-breathing-exercises-for-kids/

• Start a journal where you write about your day. What was the high point of the day? Is there something you wish you could have done differently? How did you and the others around you feel through out the day? How has life changed and what has stayed the same since people began social distancing? Journaling not also captures a moment in time but also the feelings surrounding the event. For some people it is easier to express themselves then saying how they feel out loud. It also provides the person writing in it to self-reflect on the experience at a later time. For a more in depth look check out https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/

Mindful meditation for children:

• Be the Pond | Cosmic Kids Zen Den - Mindfulness for kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5K3pP2IUQ

• Let's Unwind - Flow | GoNoodle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4gkvyZYxb0

• On & Off - Flow | GoNoodle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZP-TMr984s

• 6 Mindfulness and Meditation Apps for Kids https://www.parents.com/health/healthy-happy-kids/5-mindfulness-and-meditation-apps-for-kids/

Mindful meditation for adults:

• Meditation Self-Compassion for Parents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpX0pFWOSbE

• At Peace ~ a visual meditation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjD3czyCJxY

• 20 minute guided meditation for reducing anxiety and stress-clear the clutter to calm down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIr3RsUWrdo

• 15 Best Meditation and Mindfulness Apps for 2020 https://www.developgoodhabits.com/best-mindfulness-apps/

Tips on how to mange your mental health:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

• https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/covid-19-and-anxiety

• https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/stress-anxiety-and-depression-associated-with-the-coronavirus-covid-19-disease/

• https://copingskillsforkids.com/blog/2016/4/27/coping-skill-spotlight-5-4-3-2-1-grounding-technique

• https://medicine.umich.edu/sites/default/files/content/downloads/Relaxation-Skills-for-Anxiety.pdf

Mental Health Services:

• ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services information for people funded by the Government of Ontario. There system navigation and information service is live-answer 24/7, confidential, and free. https://www.connexontario.ca/ Call 1-519-439-0174 This number is not toll-free, and will be answered Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm EST/EDT.

• Good2Talk is a free, confidential support service for any student studying at a post-secondary institution or Indigenous Institute in Ontario. Good2Talk can support students through a wide range of issues that may be impacting their mental health and well-being. https://good2talk.ca/covid-19-support-ontario/ Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868
  

• Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 national service offering bilingual (English and French) professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people. www.kidshelpphone.ca Call 1-800-668-6868, text CONNECT to 686868 or live chat using their free Always There app. The services are available 24/7 to young people in Canada.

*Note: The term mental health can be better explored by reading this page

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response by WHO (World Health Organization). This post focused mainly on how to cope with stress as well as the degeneration of ones mental emotional, psychological, and social well-being.