Notes
Emotions and stress
- Everyone has mental health. It changes over time and can be supported. Stigma can stop people from asking for help, but needing help is not a weakness.
- All emotions are normal. Naming a feeling and choosing a healthy response (talking, journaling, activity, a break) helps. Empathy means caring about how others feel.
- A stressor triggers the body's stress response. Short-term stress can help. Chronic stress can harm sleep, mood and the body.
Coping, resilience and help
- Healthy coping includes exercise, sleep, deep breathing, time management, creative activities and talking with people you trust. Substances do not solve stress.
- Resilience can be built through supportive relationships, problem solving and learning from mistakes.
- Get help when feelings are intense, last for weeks or disrupt daily life. Talk to a trusted adult, school counselor or doctor. Take any talk of self-harm seriously.
Topics in this unit
Each topic has its own short notes and practice.
Practice
Mental health is part of everyone's well-being.
It prepares the body to react to a threat.
Calming down first leads to healthier communication.
Planning, rest and support lower stress.
Resilience is bouncing back.
Long-lasting changes call for professional support.
Free response
Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.
Free-response question
Priya, 16, has felt overwhelmed for weeks. She has a part-time job, three advanced classes and a swim practice schedule. She sleeps about 5 hours, has headaches and has stopped texting her friends.
(a) Identify two signs of stress or possible mental health concerns in Priya's situation.
Show the answer and scoring guide
She has headaches and short sleep (physical signs), and she has withdrawn from friends and feels overwhelmed (emotional and social signs).
Check off the points you earned:
(b) Describe two healthy coping strategies Priya could use.
Show the answer and scoring guide
She could make a weekly schedule and break assignments into steps, and she could practice slow breathing or take a short walk. She could also talk with a friend or sleep more.
Check off the points you earned:
(c) Explain when and to whom Priya should reach out for help.
Show the answer and scoring guide
Because the stress has lasted for weeks and is affecting her sleep, health and friendships, she should talk now to a trusted adult, school counselor or doctor who can help her create a plan and check for anxiety or depression.
Check off the points you earned: