For The Instructor. A message to instructors

Transcription

1 For The Instructor A message to instructors Mental health is a deeply personal issue that is usually difficult to discuss. Whether concerns revolve around an individual s own mental health concerns or those of others, mental health affects entire families, colleagues, close friends and communities. Because of stigma, discrimination and fear, mental health concerns often create family secrets, e.g. something that is never discussed. Added to this dilemma is the fact that a symptom of mental illness is that people often do not recognize when their own thoughts/ feelings are not normal. They may not feel sick and most of the time, people don t have sufficient objectivity to see what others may be observing. This is one of the complexities of addressing topics and concerns surrounding mental health. While it is a difficult challenge, please know that it s usually a relief when people have opportunities to hear about and talk about such an important issue. As this curriculum is taught, don t be afraid to ask students how they re doing or how they re feeling. When this is done, be prepared to truly listen for the answers, even if conversations are difficult or uncomfortable. Mental health is a hard subject to teach and to truly understand. While you may not fully understand issues that arise, your most critical teaching role may be to facilitate knowledge and understanding and help people find resources. In discussing these issues, emotions - including your own - may run high. All endeavors to positively address the realities of mental illnesses and mental health challenges are needed. You re embarking on a challenging but worthwhile - journey to create a healthier, happier environment for those you serve. Thank you! Developed by National PASS Center, Inc. Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc. Buda, TX. Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant.

2 For The Instructor Addiction / Co- occurring disorders: addiction problems pose mental health challenges, and mental health challenges often pose addiction problems. However, not all people with addictive disorders have mental illnesses, and vice versa. Addictions often have a strong base in genetics or inherited family genes and physical health. Addiction is not normally considered a mental illness or mental health challenge unless it occurs in conjunction with a mental illness. The facts are: 50% of people with an addictive disorder also have a mental illness or anxiety disorder. 20% of people with mental illnesses have some sort of addiction. There is a strong correlation between mental health and substance use, as alcohol or other substances are often used to medicate (or self- medicate) mental health symptoms. Addiction is not a mental health diagnosis, but addictions certainly impact and complicate how the brain - and therefore behaviors - are impacted. Addictions, however, may become so serious that they can lead to mental illnesses. Addiction is a vital topic to cover, check statements in the pre- and post- tests to ensure wording that s accurate and comfortable within the context of the curriculum. You might want to introduce the topic of genetics in this section. It s sometimes hard to be self- aware of personal behaviors, but they may recognize those of family members or friends. Science continues to evolve, but there seem to be linkages to genetics in many mental health diagnoses as well as addiction problems. Genetics are not at the point of predicting who will develop illnesses, but it is at a point of recognizing vulnerabilities that make some people more likely to become ill. Additional resources to use to bring in some interesting statistics: o Family History and Genetics addiction/family- history- and- genetics o National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Binge Drinking Consequences and Risks of Underage Drinking Adverse Effects on Brain Development Developed by National PASS Center, Inc. Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc. Buda, TX. Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant.

3 Lesson Plan Materials needed Handouts Estimated time Dry erase board and Lesson 1 hour markers Listening Activity Handout Pencils Coping Activity Handout Skills Practice Worksheet Pre- Assessment Post- Assessment NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR: To accommodate the literacy levels and educational experiences of the participants, oral and/or group activities may be substituted for reading, writing, skills practice, and survey activities. Elements Activities Notes Preparation Introduce the topic. Time: 5 minutes 1. Have you ever felt stressed? How did you feel? 2. What made you feel stressed? 3. What did you do to feel better? Conduct the Pre- Assessment. Time: 5 minutes Introduce the new vocabulary. Time: 5 minutes Instructions Read the lesson Let s Talk About Stress. Time: 10 minutes Identify the vocabulary words in the lesson. Time: 5 minutes Distribute and review the Skills Practice Worksheet with the students and ask them to complete it. Use the Answer Key sheet to verify the correct answers. Time: 25 minutes Concept Check Conduct Post- Assessment. Time: 5 minutes Distribute Pre- Assessment, and ask students to turn it in when it is complete. Write the vocabulary words on the board and ask the students to read them aloud. Ask the students if they know what they mean. Provide students with the definitions from the lesson. Instructor leads guided reading of topic. Students identify the vocabulary words by circling them in the lesson. Activity 1: Students have 10 minutes to complete this activity. Activity 2: Students have 10 minutes to complete this activity. Activity 3: Students have 5 minutes to complete this activity. Students complete Post- Assessment. Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out- of- school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

4 Pre- Assessment Date: Name: Circle the correct answer. 1. The way your mind and body respond to a threat is called stress. True False 2. Which personal situations can cause you to have stress? 3. Which of the following is NOT a sign of having stress? a. Marriage b. A divorce c. Learning a new skill at work d. All of the above a. You have problems remembering things b. You feel relaxed c. You have diarrhea, constipation, nausea d. You eat more or less than usual 4. If you have stress every day and for a long period of time, it may cause you to have health problems. True False 5. In some situations, stress can be good for you. True False Total Correct: Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

5 M E N T A L H E A L T H Juan and his family are farmworkers. Recently, paying their bills has been difficult. To help his family, Juan moved to a new town. He found a job in a packaging plant. He is learning how to drive a forklift truck. He likes to learn new things but he is afraid of making mistakes. Many days he works very long hours. He feels he does not have time for himself. The demands of his new job are affecting him. He worries about money. He is starting to have muscle aches and headaches. He doesn t sleep well. He wakes up tired. He does not feel like eating. What is stress? The way your brain and body respond to a threat is called stress. Let s learn about stress. An example is you think a dog is about to bite you. When your brain starts to think about it, your body releases some chemicals. Then your heart starts to beat fast. Your muscles get tight. Your blood pressure goes up. You are more alert. You are ready to fight or run. When the dog leaves, you begin to feel safer. Your body goes back to normal. The way your body responded is called stress. Some stress can be good. Stress is sometimes life-saving. Your brain and body work together to prepare you for flight or fight options where you can readily face a threat or run to safety. Feeling some stress can help you pass a test or learn a new skill. A stressor is an activity, event or thought that can cause stress. What are some possible stressors? Daily activities: driving, weather, current events, new responsibilities. Life changes such as moving to a new town or finding a new job. Negative changes like Juan s family s financial situation or work pressure. Major events: car accidents, the death of a loved one, or natural disaster. What are the signs and symptoms of too much stress? Too much stress affects your mind and your emotions. Stress also affects your body. It can even affect the way you act. Everyone needs to find positive ways to manage stress. Learn to recognize your own stressors and 1) avoid them when you can 2) create a plan to cope for those times when stress can t be avoided. Your Mind Your Emotions Your Body The Way You Act You may: You may feel: You may: You may: Struggle remembering & focusing see things in a negative way moody, anxious you have too many responsibilities get more colds or headaches have stomach problems or nausea be angry or irritable lonely and/or sad feel pain in your chest and/or back worry a lot you cannot relax feel muscle tension or pain Vocabulary Cope Threat Stressor Stress Moody Anxious eat more or less than usual sleep a lot or very little not feel like being with others exercise less often drink or smoke to relax Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out- of- school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

6 Can stress cause health problems? Feeling stress day after day can change how your brain and body act and feel. Your body may stay very alert and tense. This can lead to serious health problems such as: Depression Diabetes High Blood Pressure Heart Disease What can I do to cope (successfully handle) with my stress? Some stress is hard to avoid, but you can find ways to manage your stress. Here are some tips: Try to find a balance between work and your personal life. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Relax with closing your eyes, deep breathing or meditation. Try stretching or taking a hot shower to help you relax. Laugh. Get enough sleep. Be creative: make art, sing. Get active: dance, play soccer, volleyball, run, lift weights etc. Drink less coffee and soda. Drink alcohol only in moderation. This means no more than 1 drink a day for women and no more than 2 drinks a day for men. Eat healthy food. Eat vegetables, fruits, grains, and lean meats. Talk to someone you love/trust. Tell them how you feel. Ask them for help. Stress is normal but if it doesn t go away or keeps getting worse, talk with your doctor about it. Vocabulary & Definitions Cope Threat Stress Stressor Moody Anxious A strategy to successfully deal with a problem or difficult situation The possibility that something bad can happen Feelings of worry and nervousness caused by a difficult situation An activity, thought or event that causes stress When a person s emotions change quickly and easily. For example, he or she goes from being happy to sad, often for no reason. A normal way you feel when you feel stressed. You may feel afraid. You may not feel sure about your future. Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out- of- school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

7 Listening Activity Purpose: Time: Listening Activity To practice listening comprehension 5 minutes 1. Tell your students that in this activity they will practice their listening comprehension skills. 2. State that you are going to read five different sentences twice. 3. Let them know that after you finish reading the sentence for the second time, they need to decide if the sentence is True or False. 4. At the end, check the students answers to make sure they are correct. If some students do not have the right answer, invite other students to participate in the discussion until the information is clear. True or False? 1. There are many ways to manage my stress. Statement True False 2. Drinking coffee, soda, and alcohol can help control my stress. 3. Seeing things in a negative way or having problems remembering things are signs of stress. 4. Having too much stress for a long time can lead to depression, diabetes or high blood pressure. 5. Stress is a normal part of life. If it doesn t go away or it gets worse, your doctor can help you. Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

8 Skills Practice Worksheet Name: Date: Activity 1: Let s Read! What can Lola do about her stress? Lola works at a processing plant. She is an 18 year old mother. Working, taking care of her baby, and doing chores at home make her feel anxious. She feels tense and her neck and shoulders hurt. She can't remember the last time she took a walk. She almost never talks with her girlfriends. At night, she worries about all the things she has to finish the next day. What can Lola do to manage her stress? Check all that apply. She can try to find a balance between work and her personal life. She can practice stretching exercises to relax her muscles. She can practice deep breathing before she goes to sleep. She should worry about the things she needs to do next day. When she feels tense, she can ask for help from her family or friends. Activity 2: Do you have too much stress? Place a checkmark by each sentence that describes your lifestyle. Statement 1. I rarely sleep 7 or 8 hours a day. I often feel tired in the morning. Checkmark 2. I often end up having bad arguments. 3. I often get mad when I am stuck in traffic or late for an appointment. 4. I often feel anxious and as though I have no time to get things done. 5. I worry all the time about money to pay bills, rent, buy food, etc. 6. I am eating a lot more than usual, even when I am not hungry. 7. I often feel my muscles tense. The more often you have stress symptoms, the more likely it is affecting your health. Follow the tips in the main lesson to learn how to manage your stress. Activity 3: Listening True or False Listen to your teacher s instructions carefully and mark the correct answer. Statement True False Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out- of- school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

9 Coping Activity For Teachers: The goal of this lesson is to help students be aware of events in their lives that cause them stress, anxiety or other strong feelings and identify activities that can help them counter those stressors to prevent future illnesses. Each student will create their own individualized plan to counter stress in healthy ways. Coping Activity Eduardo stopped at a store on his way home from work. He was in a good mood, but there was a long, slow line of people in front of him. He was tired after a long day of work and now he began to feel anxious. After he paid for his items, he left the store in a really bad mood. When Eduardo arrived home, his evening was ruined. He was angry and out of control. He began to drink to feel better. The next day, he told his friend, Jose, about his night. Jose said he had similar experiences, but that he had learned to cope by having a plan that helped him stay in control of his emotions and his actions. He said that when he starts to feel anxious, he looks for specific reasons he s uncomfortable. By knowing what those reasons are, he can balance his actions with activities and thoughts that calm him. He said sometimes he takes deep breaths, sometimes he meditates, and sometimes he runs to control his emotions. He said that it is hard, but it helps him feel better most of the time. He offered to help Eduardo develop his own plan to cope. Jose helped Eduardo identify how he felt when he couldn t control everything. Eduardo said he often felt angry, sad and stressed. Other times he felt like he just didn t care anymore. Together, they developed a plan to identify events that caused these feelings. They then identified activities that could help counter those moods. Eduardo realized that while he couldn t always avoid stress, he could have a plan that would help him feel better. With this new information Eduardo felt strong. He created a plan to help him stay well. He knows it will work because it is his own plan. Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

10 Coping Activity MY PLAN to help me make healthy choices for coping with stress. I am worth it! Things I like to do are: What am I doing when I m happy? What helps me relax? What makes me feel: Angry? Sad? Lonely? When I feel stressed, what can I do? I can Names/telephone numbers of people I feel safe talking to (Family, friends etc.) I Want to Be Well! Next time I feel angry, I will Next time I feel sad, I will Next time I feel lonely, I will Keep adding ideas and experiences to My Plan so it s always up to date! Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

11 Post- Assessment Date: Name: Circle the correct answer. 1. The way your mind and body respond to a threat is called stress. True False 2. Which personal situations can cause you to have stress? 3. Which of the following is NOT a sign of having stress? a. Marriage b. A divorce c. Learning a new skill at work d. All of the above a. You have problems remembering things b. You feel relaxed c. You have diarrhea, constipation, nausea d. You eat more or less than usual 4. If you have stress every day and for a long period of time, it may cause you to have health problems. True False 5. In some situations, stress can be good for you. True False Total Correct: Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out-of-school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant

12 Answer Key Activity 1: Let s Read! What can Lola do about her stress? Lola works at a processing plant. She is an 18 year old mother. Working, taking care of her baby, and doing chores at home make her feel anxious. She feels tense and her neck and shoulders hurt. She can't remember the last time she took a walk. She almost never talks with her girlfriends. At night, she worries about all the things she has to finish the next day. What can Lola do to manage her stress? Check all that apply. She can try to find a balance between work and her personal life. She can practice stretching exercises to relax her muscles. She can practice deep breathing before she goes to sleep. She should worry about the things she needs to do next day. When she feels tense, she can ask for help from her family or friends. Activity 2: Do you have too much stress? Place a checkmark by each sentence that describes your lifestyle. (Answers will vary.) Statement 1. I rarely sleep 7 or 8 hours a day. I often feel tired in the morning. 2. I often end up having bad arguments. 3. I often get mad when I am stuck in traffic or late for an appointment. 4. I often feel anxious and as though I have no time to get things done. 5. I worry all the time about money to pay bills, rent, buy food, etc. 6. I am eating a lot more than usual, even when I am not hungry. 7. I often feel my muscles tense. Checkmark The more often you have stress symptoms, the more likely it is affecting your health. Follow the tips in the main lesson to learn how to manage your stress. Activity 3: Listening True or False Listen to your teacher s instructions carefully and mark the correct answer. Statement True False 1. There are many ways to manage your stress. ü 2. Drinking coffee, soda, and alcohol can help control my stress. ü 3. Seeing things in a negative way and having problems remembering things are signs of stress. ü 4. Having too much stress for a long time can lead to depression, diabetes or high blood pressure. ü 5. Stress is a normal part of life. But if it doesn t go away or keeps getting worse your doctor can help you. Developed by the National PASS Center, Inc.- Leicester, NY and the National Center for Farmworker Justice, Inc.- Buda, TX with Funding from the Graduation and Outcomes for Success of Out- of- school Youth (GOSOSY) Migrant Education Program consortium grant