Mental Health Literacy

General Instructions:

Using your classroom or workplace as the main example, reflect on the relevance of the global burden of mental health for your practice and discuss how mental health is likely exhibited in the classroom by providing at least two real examples of how stigma surrounding mental health is observed in your workplace. 

Step 1: Review and Reflect [15 minutes] 

Read the following excerpt from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2009-2019:

“More than 1 in 3 high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009. In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009.”

Review the information in the excerpt above. Based on the excerpt, reflect on how mental health conditions among children are perceived in your school/workplace. Reflect on the possibility of having kids under your supervision who are experiencing mental health problems without being aware of it or whose parents may be experiencing mental health problems that affect them as well. 

Step 2: Respond [130 minutes]

Prepare a 400-500 word written piece discussing the following as observed in your classroom or workplace:

• How are mental health conditions likely to be exhibited at your school/workplace?
• How is stigma surrounding mental health observed at your workplace/school?
• What are relevant examples in your own settings that demonstrate how stigmatizing attitudes contribute to the delay and burden of mental health conditions among children?
• What is a real-life example of how stigma surrounding mental health may affect how they deal with such children OR how stigma within their workplaces may affect how they can deal with such children?
• How can improved mental health literacy help reduce stigma and address the burden of mental health conditions in the classroom?
• What measures can you take to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health conditions in the classroom?

Step 3: Share [10 minutes]

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Interact [10 minutes]

To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback, and then click on “Post to forum.”

General Instructions:

In this learning activity, you will analyze a selected case study and explain the typical developmental processes/stages of a child at that age, as well as the factors influencing their development at the selected stage. 

Step 1: Review [30 minutes]

Review the two case presentations below. Select the one that is the most appropriate to your current field of practice.

• She is shy.
• She does not easily adapt to the school program.
• She isolates herself from the other students.
• She likes to play in her corner.
• She is indifferent, careless and has difficulties in establishing emotional relations with her classmates.
•  As it relates to her reading skills, teacher records indicate that Melda reads at a seventh-grade level with fluency but struggles with oral reading comprehension and written expression. Her reading and writing performance require accommodations for testing and participation in the general curriculum, including extended time, read-aloud, and computer software resources to support listening comprehension and writing.

Step 2: Respond [150 minutes]

For your selected case study, prepare a 400-600 word written response addressing the following:

• If you have selected Case Study 1 (7-year-old boy), discuss the following: 
• What are common social developmental milestones typically achieved at this development stage (primary school)?
• What signs of delayed social development are exhibited in the case presentation? 
• How would you approach this once you notice it?
• Do you have any comment about differences you may have seen in a male student experiencing a similar difficulty? 
• Have you experienced something similar in your own classroom? What, if anything, did you do about it (strategies/approaches, if any)?

OR 

• If you have selected Case Study 2 (12-year-old girl), discuss the following:
• What are common developmental milestones typically achieved at the cognitive development stage at the primary school age?
• What signs of delayed cognitive development are exhibited in the case presentation? 
• How would you approach this once you notice it?
• What trends have you observed in terms of sex differences during this stage of development?
• Have you experienced something similar in your own classroom? What, if anything, did you do about it (strategies/approaches, if any)?

Step 4: Optional Peer Interaction

We highly encourage you to engage with your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. However, this interaction is not mandatory. If you choose to participate, consider reflecting on your peers' comments, sharing additional insights, or asking thought-provoking questions. This exchange of ideas can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the topic. If you decide to respond, simply click "Reply" on a discussion, write your feedback, and then click "Post to forum." Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment, so feel free to join the conversation if you're comfortable doing so.

General Instructions:

In this learning activity, you will select a topic (corporal punishment, internet and social media use or parent-teacher collaboration) and reflect on its relevance to your practice.

Step 1: Review [15 minutes]

Review the three topics below. Select ONE that is the most appropriate to your current field of practice.

• Reintroduction of corporal punishment policies in schools as a tool for oppression or for mending
• The impact of the internet and social media use on a child’s learning and behavior in schools
• Parents and teachers collaborating to enhance student success in the classroom

Step 2: Respond [105 minutes]

Prepare a brief 200-400 word reflection based on the topic/issue you would have selected in the step above, discussing the following:

• How relevant is the selected topic to your current field of practice? Support your answer with examples.
• How crucial is the connection between your selected topic and mental health?
• How has it evolved over the last 10 years? 
• Are there significant changes or developments regarding the topic that made an impact on your field of practice?
• If there have not been any significant changes, what strategies can be used to help bring about meaningful change to improve mental health in the classroom?
• How would an improved outlook and approach to the selected topic benefit mental health literacy?

Step 3: Share [10 minutes]

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Optional Peer Interaction

We highly encourage you to engage with your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. However, this interaction is not mandatory. If you choose to participate, consider reflecting on your peers' comments, sharing additional insights, or asking thought-provoking questions. This exchange of ideas can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the topic. If you decide to respond, simply click "Reply" on a discussion, write your feedback, and then click "Post to forum." Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment, so feel free to join the conversation if you're comfortable doing so.

General Instructions:

In this learning activity, you will analyze a case study detailing a student with an undisclosed social anxiety disorder who is a victim of cyberbullying initiated by his/her peers. Discuss the impact of this incident and strategies to address it and its associated challenges.

Step 1: Analyze [30 minutes] 

Analyze the fictional case study below.

• Discuss how the bullying incident could have impacted the child.
• Discuss potential strategies to help minimize the harm of internet and social media use within and outside school settings. Extend your thinking to peer victimization and problems where there is a risk of physical violence.
• Identify common signs/symptoms associated with social anxiety disorder that teachers can be aware of.
• Discuss the important role of parents and teachers in collaborating on matters regarding children’s development and its associated challenges that need to be addressed. 
• Cite a similar example you have experienced in your classroom and discuss potential strategies that can be used for supporting children with anxiety.

Step 3: Share [10 minutes]

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Optional Peer Interaction

We highly encourage you to engage with your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. However, this interaction is not mandatory. If you choose to participate, consider reflecting on your peers' comments, sharing additional insights, or asking thought-provoking questions. This exchange of ideas can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the topic. If you decide to respond, simply click "Reply" on a discussion, write your feedback, and then click "Post to forum." Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment, so feel free to join the conversation if you're comfortable doing so.

General Instructions:

In this learning activity, you will analyze a case study about a student experiencing interparental conflicts and discuss how this experience influences his/her development and school success, the possibility for him/her to develop depression, as well as appropriate support strategies for the student.

Step 1: Analyze [30 minutes] 

Analyze the fictional case study below.

Step 2: Respond [150 minutes]

After analyzing the case, respond by writing a 350-600 word post that discusses the following:

• What can this student be experiencing?
• How could parental conflicts and family separation impact the child?
• How would you engage the parents in approaching this?
• Is there a role for the school in supporting the distressed student due to family conflicts?
• What are potential strategies for managing these difficulties in the classroom? Discuss when you would require expert input. Discuss worries you may have as a resource person for this child. 
• Discuss the important role of the parents and teachers in collaborating on matters regarding children’s development and its associated challenges that need to be addressed. 

Step 3: Share [10 minutes]

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Optional Peer Interaction

We highly encourage you to engage with your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. However, this interaction is not mandatory. If you choose to participate, consider reflecting on your peers' comments, sharing additional insights, or asking thought-provoking questions. This exchange of ideas can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the topic. If you decide to respond, simply click "Reply" on a discussion, write your feedback, and then click "Post to forum." Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment, so feel free to join the conversation if you're comfortable doing so.

General Instructions:

In this learning activity, you will analyze a case study detailing a student diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) who has an alarming usage of the internet and social media. Also, discuss its impact on the child’s development and appropriate support strategies for the teacher to address the student's needs in the case study.

Step 1: Analyze [30 minutes] 

Analyze the fictional case study below.

Step 2: Respond [150 minutes]

After analyzing the case, respond by writing a 350-600 word post that discusses the following:

• Discuss how excessive use of the internet and social media could impact the child’s development.
• Discuss your experiences managing such a child in your classroom.
• Identify which signs/symptoms this child exhibits that you would consider problematic to the normal functioning of your classroom.
• Discuss the role and limits of educators in managing students with behavioral problems.
• Discuss the important role of the parents and teachers in collaborating on matters regarding children’s development and its associated challenges that need to be addressed. 
• Discuss how educators can help create a positive learning environment for students with ODD/CD.

Step 3: Share [10 minutes]

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Optional Peer Interaction

We highly encourage you to engage with your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. However, this interaction is not mandatory. If you choose to participate, consider reflecting on your peers' comments, sharing additional insights, or asking thought-provoking questions. This exchange of ideas can broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the topic. If you decide to respond, simply click "Reply" on a discussion, write your feedback, and then click "Post to forum." Remember, the goal is to foster a collaborative learning environment, so feel free to join the conversation if you're comfortable doing so.

In this learning activity, you will work on creating a vision board. A vision board is a powerful visual tool to help manifest your aspirations and dreams. It serves as a tangible representation of where you want to be in life, acting as a source of motivation to reach your goals. In this activity, we're using it to focus on improving our wellbeing. Remember, this activity is meant to be a fun, creative process that helps you set tangible goals for improving your wellbeing. Happy vision boarding!

Step 1: Reflect on the Eight Dimensions of Wellbeing: Before starting, remind yourself of the eight dimensions of wellbeing: Emotional, Environmental, Financial, Intellectual, Occupational, Physical, Social, and Spiritual. Rate your current level of satisfaction in each of these areas on a scale of 1 to 10. Note down the areas that need improvement.

Step 2: Gather Your Tools: This is a digital vision board, so you'll need access to a computer or tablet. You can use various online tools to create your vision board. Some suggestions include Pinterest, Canva, or Google Slides. Choose a platform you're comfortable with.

Step 3: Search for Inspirations: Start by searching for images, symbols, or quotes that resonate with your goals for each wellbeing dimension. For instance, if you want to improve your physical wellbeing by running a marathon, you might choose a picture of a runner crossing a finish line. Be creative and choose images that inspire and motivate you.

Step 4: Create Your Digital Vision Board: Start arranging the images on your chosen platform. You can divide your board into sections for each wellbeing dimension, or you can create a collage. The layout is entirely up to you. The key is that when you look at your board, the images should inspire and motivate you to improve your wellbeing.

Step 5: Reflect on Your Vision Board: Once your board is complete, take some time to look at it. What do you feel? Do the images inspire you? Do they represent the life you want to live? Use this time to visualize yourself achieving the goals your board represents.

Step 6: Create an Action Plan: Now, write down specific actions that can help you reach the goals represented on your board. If you have a picture of a runner to represent physical wellbeing, an action might be "run three times a week." Keep these actions manageable, realistic, and in line with your current life situation.