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Supporting children’s mental health | Rising Kashmir

Supporting children’s mental health | Rising Kashmir

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Supporting children’s mental health


Posted on Jan 20, 2022 | Author Dr Suhail Naik



The human brain is susceptible to environmental, social, stresses and strains. To keep a positive mindset and progressive neurodevelopment, parents have to create an environment where a child feels a sense of belonging, feeling connected, sense of trust.

Building strong, positive relationships among students, school staff, and parents is important to promoting mental wellness.

Children need early emotional and social feeding to develop different competencies in the social and emotional domain of mental health. They need to know that they can overcome challenges and accomplish goals through their actions.

During early development, children should feel positive and safe in the school environment. Feeling safe is critical for progressive learning and mental health. The teachers should always promote positive behaviors.

Teaching children social skills, problem-solving and conflict resolution supports good mental health. Positive feedback validates and reinforces valued behaviors.

Encourage children to help others. Children need to know that they can make a difference. Pro-social behaviors build self-esteem, foster connectedness, reinforce personal responsibility, and present opportunities for positive recognition. 

Encouraging good physical health supports good mental health. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise and adequate sleep protect kids against the stress of tough situations. Regular exercise also decreases negative emotions like anxiety, anger and depression.

Parents and teachers should know symptoms of mental health problems as their early recognition and intervention can save a deviating brain or mindset.

School mental health professionals can also provide useful information on symptoms of problems like depression, anxiety, phobia, autistic disorders or suicide risk.

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Inspirational Harriet Elleman opens up about her off-field battles with anxiety and mental health | South Coast Register

Inspirational Harriet Elleman opens up about her off-field battles with anxiety and mental health | South Coast Register

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news, latest-news, harriet elleman, rugby union, bomaderry, act brumbies, anxiety, mental health, nowra high school, wagga wagga

On the field, Harriet Elleman has developed into one of the toughest women in Australian rugby. But behind that brave face is someone who deals when nerves, anxiety and her own mental health battles. “I was placing a lot of pressure on myself to perform at everything I do – from my course at Charles Sturt University (Bachelor of Teaching – secondary), rugby union and working to support myself, which is when I realised I had a problem,” said Elleman. “I really suffered during that time as I didn’t feel there were enough hours in the day, between studying, applying for scholarships and simply trying to make ends meet – it was one of the hardest periods of my life until I admitted to myself I needed help as I wasn’t coping. Read more: Bennett announces herself on world stage with equal second in Abu Dhabi “I then reached our started seeing a psychologist, which really helped calm my anxiety by talking through my thoughts and emotions, among other coping mechanisms – as I wasn’t prepared to give up any parts of my life. “Taking three, big, deep breaths to reset is another tool I use to maintain a positive headspace and remind me that it’s not the end of the world if things don’t work out as I’d planned. “I also prioritise getting at least seven to eight hours sleep a night to decrease my stress levels and the pressure I put on myself- because, at the end of the day, we’re all only human. “All this was enabled me to understand my own mental health, make it a priority and know when I need to take a step back and reset – especially now more than ever with what everyone’s gone through the past two years.” Those techniques, which include going for a walk with her dogs or listening to a podcast and tuning out, have massively the 28-year-old overcome the adversity that has come her way the past few seasons and put her in a positive mindset. “When I broke my hand in the pre-season a couple of years ago, I didn’t even think I’d make the squad,” said Elleman, who admits her captain Michaela Leonard and coaching staff, headed by Mick Burrows and Daniel Hawke, have been exceptional sounding boards for her to speak with. “Instead of moping around, I worked as hard as I possibly could to get the rest of my body as fit as it could – and when I was selected by the coaches, it was one of the best feelings I’ve experienced, as it showed the confidence the club had in me. “Then last season, with the whole COVID situation, every day was a new proposition and challenge, from temperature checking, masks rules and isolations, which was extremely tough – especially being the vice-captain and feeling that little bit of extra pressure. “But I enjoyed that extra responsibility and feel it’s helped me become the person I am today – I hope I get that honour again in the future. “Every situation is a learning experience and I’ve really tried to take the glass-half-full approach to the past few years and concentrate on what I can control and not what I can’t.” More recently, factors that have added to the Wagga Wagga-based athletes’ anxiety have been starting a new job at CSU and missing the start of the Brumbies’ pre-season training due to border restrictions. Read more: Seven champions crowned at Kiama’s surfer groms competition “Unfortunately, us girls that weren’t in the ACT did a couple of remote sessions before returning to face-to-face sessions on November 1,” the Nowra High School alumna said. “That pre-season block, of two sessions a week, will continue until the start of December when we should transition into the next stage of our summer regime.” This will ensure Elleman and her Brumbies are ready for the 2022 Super W competition, which is set to kick-off in March/April. “Everyone is really looking forward to returning to our regular home and away structure with finals this season, after last year’s shortened format,” she said. “The sport is as popular as it has ever been among women and we’re all keen to showcase that on the national stage once again.” We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.

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Mental health expert gives advice for coping with COVID-19 stress

Mental health expert gives advice for coping with COVID-19 stress

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 He said conditions easing this summer did help many people out. 

“That opportunity to be outside, enjoying activities with family and friends and kind of returning to a sense of normalcy definitely has a positive impact on depression and anxiety.”

White gave advice for coping with the worry that is creeping back in — for many people.

“The very first way we cope with that is by acknowledging those real emotions. Instead of kind of pushing that away or trying to deny what we’re feeling, the frustration, the anger, the disappointment, that kind of rush of different things, both the good and the bad, is really just acknowledging it.”

“Re-framing it, not so much as it being catastrophic, or really disappointing or that we’ve failed, but that we’ve had some successes. We’ve had some setbacks, and we know how to get back to a place of success again is going to be important to keeping that positive mindset.”

The doctor talked about those dealing with the sense of failure, that people who really sacrificed during the stricter restrictions, may be feeling. 

“It’s not uncommon for people to feel, again, that kind of range of emotions that go from sadness to disappointment, or even resentment or anger toward those in our community, those in maybe our own families, and so, again, acknowledging those feelings are there and also really try not to personalize how the situation around us is unfolding.”

Many parents are having to talk to their kids about the COVID resurgence.

“It’s important to try to give answers as best as we can and to not try to dismiss or soothe those anxieties with misinformation or a darkness surrounding what really is going on.”

White said a candid conversation is best and an attempt to normalize COVID precautions like mask wearing.

“Trying to integrate the things we need to do to stay healthy into those routines is going to be a key way to help to overall reduce anxiety about the realities of where we’re at now,” he said.



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