Module 7

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Mental Health and

Well-Being in Middle
and Late Adolescence
MENTAL HEALTH

It’s the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors


affect your life. Good mental health leads to positive
self-image and in-turn, satisfying relationships with
friends and others. Having good mental health helps you
make good decisions and deal with life’s challenges at
home, work, or school. It is not uncommon for
teenagers to develop problems with their mental health.
Problems can range from mild to severe, and can include
depression, anxiety, body esteem issues, and suicide,
among others.
Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?
Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth — and
how much you feel other people value you. Self-esteem is
important because feeling good about yourself can affect your
mental health and how you behave. People with high self-esteem
know themselves well. They're realistic and find friends that like
and appreciate them for who they are. People with high self-
esteem usually feel more in control of their lives and know their
own strengths and weaknesses. Body image is how you view your
physical self — including whether you feel you are attractive and
whether others like your looks. For many people, especially people
in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self
esteem.
What Influences a Person's Self-Esteem?
Puberty and Development
Some people struggle with their self-esteem
and body image when they begin puberty
because it's a time when the body goes
through many changes. These changes,
combined with wanting to feel accepted by
our friends, means it can be tempting to
compare ourselves with others.
Media Images and Other Outside Influences

Our tweens and early teens are a time when


we become more aware of celebrities and
media images — as well as how other kids look
and how we fit in. We might start to compare
ourselves with other people or media images.
Families and School
Family life can sometimes influence our body
image. Some parents or coaches might be too
focused on looking a certain way or "making
weight" for a sports team. Family members might
struggle with their own body image or criticize
their kids' looks. This can all influence a person's
self-esteem, especially if they're sensitive to others
peoples' comments. People also may experience
negative comments and hurtful teasing about the
way they look from classmates and peers.
Common Eating Disorders
1. Anorexia
People with anorexia have a real fear of
weight gain and a distorted view of their body
size and shape. As a result, they eat very little
and can become dangerously underweight.
Many teens with anorexia restrict their food
intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive
exercise.
2. Bulimia
With bulimia, people might binge eat (eat to
excess) and then try to compensate in
extreme ways, such as making themselves
throw up or exercising all the time, to prevent
weight gain. Over time, these steps can be
dangerous — both physically and emotionally.
SUPPORT STRATEGIES/COMMUNITY MENTAL
HEALTH RESOURCES
Here are some strategies for supporting someone with
mental health concerns:
• Encourage the person to seek help and support from an
adult. • Spend time with the person, listen to his/her
concerns.
• Be hopeful; help them feel like their life will get better.
• Stand by them. Invite your friend to things that you are
doing; keeping busy and staying in touch with friends will
help your friend feel better, when they are ready.
• Learn as much as you can about mental illness so
that you understand what is going on for them.
• If you are a close friend or family member of
someone with a mental health problem, make sure
that you get help as well. Talk to someone about
what is happening. This will help you be a better
support person.
• Put the person’s life before your friendship. If the
person mentions thoughts of suicide, don’t keep it
secret, even if the person has asked you to.
Here are some important reminders:
 Mental health is as important as physical health. In fact, the two
are closely linked.
 Mental health problems are real, and they deserve to be treated.
 It’s not a person’s fault if he or she has a mental health problem.
No one is to blame.
 Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness. They are not
something you can “just snap out of” even if you try.
 Whether you’re male or female, it’s ok to ask for help and get it.
 There’s hope. People improve and recover with the help of
treatment, and they are able to enjoy happier and healthier lives.
HEALTHY EATING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Healthy eating nourishes the body, including


the brain, and supports mental health through:
 Improved overall health and vitality
 Increased ability to concentrate
 Reduced irritability and mood swings
 Lowered risk of mental illness
Physical Activity and Mental Health

Getting physically active may:


 Make you feel better physically and feel better about
yourself.
 Improve your mood.
 Improve self-esteem.
 Reduce physical reactions to stress.
 Help you sleep better.
 Give you more energy.
Sleep and Mental Health

Most teens need 9-11 hours of sleep every night. Problems from not
being fully rested include:
 Irritability
 Difficulty concentrating and learning
 Don’t move information from short-term to long-term memory as
well
 Falling asleep in class
 Mood swings and behavior problems
 More accident prone
 More prone to depression
Suggestions for getting a good night sleep:
 Stay away from stimulants like caffeine in the
evening, including chocolate, colas, and other
caffeinated beverages. These delay sleep and
increase night waking.
 Do not go to bed hungry, have a light snack.
 Turn off any TV’s, computers, or cellphones,
or just do not have electronics in the bedroom.
 Disengage from any stimulating activities like exercise, computer games
or talking on the phone for at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime. Reading
is much more relaxing and may help you fall asleep.
 Taking a warm bath or shower helps prepare the body for sleep.
 If you are not feeling rested and functioning at your best most days, talk
to your parents. You may need to speak to a doctor if you are having
problems sleeping in spite of trying the above tips.  Try a cup of hot milk.

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