Minds On

Keeping your boat afloat

There is a bowl with water in it. If you put an empty cup in the water, it will float like a boat. The boat represents people. Sometimes things happen in our life that makes our boat become heavier. It is important to identify things that help keep our boat floating.

Here are some examples:

  • having someone to talk to
  • having a space that is comfortable and safe
  • spending time with people
  • having special interests or hobbies

Brainstorm

Brainstorm

Make a note of things that could help someone keep their boat afloat.

  • What are some things that might cause someone stress?
  • What could the effect of a lot of stress be on someone’s life?

Complete the Things that Keep your Boat Afloat in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. You can also use another method of your choice to record your ideas.

Things that Keep your Boat Afloat
Things that keep a boat floating Possible stressors Possible places to go for support

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Things that Keep your Boat Afloat.

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Action

Mental health literacy

Mental health literacy is the ability to recognize your feelings, relationships, and thoughts. It is having the skills and tools to take care of your well-being. People that are mental health literate know and practise the strategies of being positive and happy.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Reflect on the following questions.

  • What are some things that cause people stress?
  • Are any of these things controllable? If so, which ones?

Press ‘Stress’ to reveal what this word means.

Stress can cause you to have headaches, not be able to sleep or concentrate. Stress can make you grumpy and sad.

Record your thinking using a method of your choice.

Strategies to help improve mental health

Press the following tabs to learn about some strategies to help improve your mental health.

A child is meditating in her bedroom with her eyes closed and legs crossed.

Practise meditation and mindfulness

There is an image of a child with their eyes closed sitting on the floor cross legged with their hands on their knees.

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique, such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity. All you have to do is close your eyes and stay focused on your breathing.

There are two adults and two children. All four are smiling and flexing their muscles.

Stay positive about the future

There is a child standing behind a line of faces with different emotions. The child is pointing to the smiling face.

Identify your feelings and problems

One child is on the ground while another child helps them up by holding their hand and pulling their arm.

Helping each other

There are five friends sitting on a fence. They all have their arms around one another and are smiling.

Have a positive attitude

Identify some of your own choices that can have a positive impact on your mental health. Record your thinking using a method of your choice.

Student Tips

Self-care

Self-care is taking care of your own emotional and mental well-being.

Here are some things you can do.

  • Set a time every day just for yourself so that you can relax, reflect, and breathe.
  • Be kind to yourself in order to maintain a positive mindset.
  • Think ahead and be prepared for things that cause you stress.
  • Be positive to maintain a healthy outlook on your surroundings.

Consolidation

Let’s create!

Create your own self-care poster or your own personal mental health literacy goals. Exploring your own poster every day could be helpful in reminding yourself to practise self-care and to make choices that will have a positive impact on your mental health. For example, eating healthy will allow you to eat nutritional foods and decrease stress. For each goal you set, identify possible benefits that may be achieved.

You can record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Here is an example of a self-care poster.

An example of a self-care poster titled "My Daily Self-Care". There are seven hearts each with a different slogan. The first heart has “Eat Healthy” with a box underneath saying, “Will provide important nutrients and minerals”. The second heart has “Connect with family and friends”. The third heart has “Hydrate and get good sleep”. The fourth heart has "Practice mindfulness”. The fifth heart has “Do yoga”. The sixth heart has “Be positive,” and the final heart has "Be active daily”.

Here is an example poster of setting mental health literacy goals.

An example poster of setting mental health goals titled "My Mental Health Literacy Goals". There are five hearts each with a different slogan. The first heart has “Be positive". The second heart has “Be a critical thinker”. The third heart has “Identify how I am feeling”. The fourth heart has “Be aware of what I like to do,” and the fifth heart has “Manage my emotions”.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

For more information and strategies to support you, go to TVO Learn and click on the School Mental Health Link and then go to students.

https://tvolearn.com/pages/health-wellness(Opens in a new window)

https://kidshelpphone.ca/(Opens in a new window)