CurriculumGrades 6-8Health & Physical Education

Mental and emotional health and coping

Aligned to NHES 7 — SHAPE America National Standards.

What this lesson teaches

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it is normal to have ups and downs. Sometimes feelings like anxiety or sadness become strong or last a long time, and conditions like anxiety and depression are real and treatable. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and there are people and resources ready to support you.

Worked example

If you felt sad or worried for weeks and it made it hard to enjoy things or sleep, that would be a good reason to talk to a parent, counselor, or trusted adult, just like you would for a physical illness.

Practice questions

  1. Name two healthy ways to cope with stress.
  2. Why is asking for help a strength?
  3. Who is a trusted adult you could turn to?

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Salud mental y emocional, y estrategias para afrontar el estrés

La salud mental es tan importante como la salud física, y es normal tener altibajos. A veces sentimientos como la ansiedad o la tristeza se vuelven intensos o duran mucho tiempo; condiciones como la ansiedad y la depresión son reales y tienen tratamiento. Pedir ayuda es una señal de fortaleza, y existen personas y recursos dispuestos a apoyarte.

Ejemplo: Si te sintieras triste o preocupado durante semanas y eso te dificultara disfrutar las cosas o dormir, sería una buena razón para hablar con un padre, orientador o adulto de confianza, igual que lo harías con una enfermedad física.

More Health lessons

Nutrition, energy needs, and healthy body imageNHES 1Puberty, growth, and developmentNHES 1Healthy relationships, boundaries, and communicationNHES 4Substance use prevention and refusal skillsNHES 4Digital safety and evaluating health informationNHES 3Sleep, screen time, and healthy habitsNHES 7

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