Ontario Home Economics Association
  • Home
  • About OHEA
    • What is a P.H.Ec.
    • How To Become a P.H.Ec.
    • Membership Benefits
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • News
    • Cookbooks >
      • The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook
      • P.H.Ec. Authors
      • Homegrown
    • Media >
      • OHEA Highlights
      • Care for the Caregiver
      • Links/Resources
      • Videos
  • Branch Associations
    • THEA
    • Branch News
    • Affiliated Associations
    • Student Branches
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Food Literacy
    • Resources
  • OHEA COURSE
  • Join Us
    • Students
    • Categories of Membership
    • Privacy Statement
    • Awards and Scholarships
  • Members
    • Membership Renewal
    • Member News & Announcements
    • Mentorship Program
    • AGM
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs

Practicing Self-Care Together

8/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Recent studies show that the disease burden of mental illness in Ontario is an alarming 1.5 times higher than all cancers put together and more than 7 times that of all infectious diseases. Spanning from children to middle-aged adults, many are suffering from mental and emotional distress. Rates of anxiety and depression are occurring on a larger scale making it important to build emotional and mental strength.

​Experts at Mental Health America (MHA) found that good feelings can boost one’s ability to deal with stress, solve problems, think flexibly, and even fight disease. Hence why creating a positive mindset by taking care of your body’s emotional and mental needs is an important part of self-care for both children and adults.
It’s never too early to focus on our mental well-being. To help you and your family improve your mental health, we’ve put together ways for parents and children to practice self-care together.
 
Expressing negative emotions makes room for positive thoughts and feelings to foster.
 
1. Start a conversation. Talking about mental health, let alone our general feelings and thoughts, can be uncomfortable. As a family, it’s important to establish a “safe-zone” where there is trust and comfort that each person’s thoughts will be heard and validated without judgement. Navigate the “unknown” together as parent and child by listening to one another, asking questions, and offering support. For children who are apprehensive about talking to their parents for a variety of reasons, find materials about mental health to help you explain what you’re going through.
 
Good nutrition is essential for mental health.
 
2. Build good habits. A balanced mood correlates with a balanced diet. As a matter of fact, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) found that those who report some degree of mental health problems eat fewer healthy foods (fresh fruit and vegetables, organic foods and home-cooked meals) and consume more unhealthy foods (chips, chocolate, frozen meals). It’s easy to tell your children to eat better, but it’s more effective to be a positive influence by demonstrating through your own actions. Start with dinnertime — ditch the takeout and allocate at least one night a week to have a sit down meal together. There are many physical, mental and emotional benefits of regular family meals. Not only can you teach your children about good nutrition, but you can encourage healthy habits and bond by cooking meals together. What’s more is that you can use meal time to engage in conversation with each other and reconnect as a family.
 
Laughter can be the best medicine.
 
3. Make time for joy. When you participate in an activity you enjoy, your stress levels can decrease. It’s even better if you and your loved ones can enjoy activities together, like watching a funny movie or show. National Certified Counselor Tanya J. Peterson notes, “The act of laughing is similar to deep breathing in its ability to increase the oxygen in our bodies. Coupled with reducing stress hormones, the increased oxygen in the body helps lead to muscle relaxation. All of this helps reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.”
 
Stay alert and aware of warning signs that you or your loved one may need to seek assistance from a mental health professional.
 
4. Recognize changes. Children may have a difficult time grasping mental health concepts, including identifying negative feelings and harmful thoughts. Therefore, it’s important to recognize and pay attention to changes in thoughts and behaviors in both children and adults. According to MHA, symptoms that may indicate a mental health condition developing in both adolescents and adults can include: prolonged depression (sadness or irritability), feelings of extreme highs and lows, excessive fears, worries and anxieties, social withdrawal, drastic changes in eating or sleeping habits, strong feelings of anger, delusions and hallucinations, growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities, suicidal thoughts, and substance use or abuse.


Remember: Teach your family that if someone is in crisis now, seek help immediately by calling 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). If you aren’t comfortable talking out loud, text Connecteen at 587-333-2724 (Monday to Friday, from 3pm – 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm).
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Picture

    The Ontario Home Economics Association, a self-regulating body of professional Home Economists, promotes high professional standards among its members so that they may assist families and individuals to achieve and maintain a desirable quality of life.

    Categories

    All
    ACHES
    Agriculture
    Award
    Board Of Directors
    Branch Associations
    Conference
    Contest
    Family/Relationships
    Finances
    Food Literacy
    Foods And Nutrition
    Homegrown
    Interviews
    Mentorship
    New PHEcs
    Nutrition
    Obituary
    Outreach
    Professional Development
    Recipes
    Sponsors
    Student Member
    Sustainability
    Through The Years

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    July 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

About OHEA
Job Postings
                                 Subscribe to our mailing list
News and Events
Food Literacy in the News
                        Unsubscribe ​from our mailing list
Blog
Links/Resources
                                                           Contact Us
Copyright © 2023 Ontario Home Economics Association (OHEA). All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About OHEA
    • What is a P.H.Ec.
    • How To Become a P.H.Ec.
    • Membership Benefits
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • News
    • Cookbooks >
      • The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook
      • P.H.Ec. Authors
      • Homegrown
    • Media >
      • OHEA Highlights
      • Care for the Caregiver
      • Links/Resources
      • Videos
  • Branch Associations
    • THEA
    • Branch News
    • Affiliated Associations
    • Student Branches
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Food Literacy
    • Resources
  • OHEA COURSE
  • Join Us
    • Students
    • Categories of Membership
    • Privacy Statement
    • Awards and Scholarships
  • Members
    • Membership Renewal
    • Member News & Announcements
    • Mentorship Program
    • AGM
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs