The following activities are created with classrooms of all levels in mind and work best when paired with Britannica School. Contact your library staff to see if your institution already has access.
Britannica School defines mental health as “the condition of having mental and emotional well-being.” Take a look at October’s Britannica School activities to learn how students can improve their mental well-being via therapy, exercise, and other classroom resources.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.”
CDC statistics indicate that the reports of mental health struggles among young people are on the rise: “‘Ever having been diagnosed with either anxiety or depression’ among children aged 6–17 years increased from 5.4% in 2003 to 8% in 2007 and to 8.4% in 2011–2012.”
In an eye-opening piece for Vox’s The Mind, Explained series titled I work with kids. Here’s why they’re consumed with anxiety., youth pastor John Thornton, Jr. writes, “Kids today have to constantly consider the perils of work and career with enough specificity to worry about it. At the same time that they stress about the future that’s so very far off, they live with technology that keeps that anxiety consistently in the front of their minds.”
Being a kid doesn’t exempt one from the stresses and doubts we all face every day, and just because someone has never been diagnosed with a disorder doesn’t mean they may not need help now and then.
In honor of the many mental health awareness observances throughout October—World Mental Health Day (October 10), Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, and National Depression Education Awareness Month—check out our new e-book, specifically designed to provide lessons, activities, and supporting resources centered around mental and emotional well-being for students. Educators can find multimedia content curated for each lesson bundle.
CHECK HEREÂ to see if your region is one of our state-wide Britannica School subscribers.
We love feedback! Tweet us @BritannicaLearn.
Learn more about Britannica products with our self-paced video tutorials.
