Hello Everyone,
In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, I'd like to share the following newsletter, created by Ms. Shawna Swift, our Social Worker.
When we are mentally healthy, we find more enjoyment, have positive feelings about ourselves and others, maintain positive relationships and we are able to handle stress fairly well. Many people experience stress, anxiety or periods of depression, many of which are related to circumstances that we all go through from time to time.
Maintaining regular habits, such as healthy eating and sleep habits, spending time with loved ones, regulating stress (finding periods of stress relief to avoid being under prolonged stress) and engaging in regular exercise, are ways to reduce the likelihood of and impact of mental health symptoms.
Nutrition
“The quality of food you eat can impact your overall physical and mental health. Your gut is often called “the second brain” and communicates with your actual brain – physically through the vagus nerve and chemically through hormones and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that carry signals between cells).”
Some vitamins that support a healthy brain include: Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and Vitamin D.
Exercise
“Staying active benefits many aspects of health and can prevent physical and mental health symptoms from worsening. Making time for exercise and movement each day improves self-esteem, brain function, and sleep and has been found to lessen social withdrawal and stress.”
Some fun ways to incorporate exercise into your family’s day could include: counting steps when doing various activities (make it a game), doing a fun kids workout on YouTube (such as The Body Coach TV), playing tag (adult tag can be fun too!), and going on a family bike ride.
Sleep
“Your health heavily depends on how rested you are. Sleep plays a role in your moods, ability to learn and make memories, organ health, immune system, and other bodily functions like appetite, metabolism, and hormone release.”
Stress Management
“Dealing with stress is a normal part of life – we all experience it during times of too much responsibility, too little sleep, or external worries…. In most cases, stress comes and goes fairly quickly, and the body can return to its typical state. However, consistently high stress – because you are unable to relieve your stress or are constantly facing stressful situations (chronic stress) – can negatively impact attention, memory, and how you deal with emotions in the long term. “
Ways to manage stress include: maintaining clear and calm environments (as much as is possible), use of coping skills (like belly breathing) and regular relaxation skills (reading, stretching, yoga, etc.) and building a support system. “Having people in your life who you relate to and can lean on goes a long way in improving your mood and general well-being. Humans are social beings, and our brains are wired to seek connection. Having people to support you during times of hardship protects your long-term mental health.”
(https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1690960762/sumnersdorg/dlspsuog3vgzww9jt38j/FactSheetMHM-MaintainingGoodMentalHealth.pdf)
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather!
In partnership,
Sarah Hess
sarah.hess@scituateschoolsri.net
Clayville Elementary School Principal
