Health Lesson 5A1 - Intro to Mental Health and Self Esteem

Characteristics of good mental health.

Having a positive outlook. Being comfortable with yourself and others. Being able to meet life’s challenges and demands. Being able to cope, adapt, and thrive on many levels. Being able to handle a wide variety of feelings and situations. Demonstrating wise and safe choices.

Does good mental health mean endless happiness?

No. You can have good mental health and still have a bad day or a bad week once in a while.

First step in mental fitness improving.

Assessing your mental health.

Signs of good mental health.

Realistic about strengths and weaknesses. Responsible for personal behavior. Avoiding high risk behavior. Are open-minded and flexible. Are fun-loving and able to relax alone or with others. Respect both their own and others needs. Respects everyone’s value as a human being. Express their emtotions in ways that do not hurt themselves or others. Invest time and energy into nourishing relationships. Put their talents and abilities to good use. View change as a challenge and an opportunity.

All or nothing thinking (how to overcome)

Learn to recognize and accept subtle degrees of difference.

Expecting the “worse” in others and yourself. (how to overcome)

Look for the good, and you will be more likely to find it.

Being a perfectionist (how to overcome)

Remind yourself that no one is perfect and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Letting your actions/words betray your values. (how to overcome it)

Stand up for what you believe in and know it’s right.

Self-esteem.

Confidence and worth that you feel about yourself.

How is self-esteem formed?

Receiving feedback.

Feedback

messages from others that indicate who they think you are or what they think you are.

sources of positive/negative feedback

parents/guardians, adults who first took care of you, siblings, extended family, teachers, coaches, friends, and your peers.

non-verbal feedback

people who smiled at you, hugged you, or patted you, frowned at, or ignored you.

verbal feedback

all of these actions made deep and lasting impressions on you

what self esteem does positive feedback equal.

equals high self-esteem.

what self-esteem does negative feedback equal.

equals low self-esteem and fragile mental health.

feedback also comes from…

ourselves. negative self talk is hurtful and non constructive and can hurt your self esteem. positive self talk will do the opposite.

strategies to change feedback from ourselves

replace negative self talk with constructive criticism. accept mistakes as a part of being human and learn and grow from the experiences so you don’t repeat them.