Authors : Karangle D.D .
Page Nos : 77-79
Description :
Mental health is defined by
the World Health Organization as a state of well
-
being in which
every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community
. Therefore, if you
don’t have a healthy mental state it will be hard for you to live your life to the fullest extent. Everyone
knows that regular exercise is good for the body. But exercise is also one of the most effective ways to
improve your mental hea
lth. Mental health promotion in early childhood settings and schools is about
creating positive, safe and supportive environments, and providing opportunities to build and practice
relationship skills. All staff can be involved in mental health promotion a
s it relates to every area of the
early childhood setting or school
–
the culture, policies, curriculum and activities. Early childhood and
school professionals are often the first to recognise instances where a child or young person’s behaviour
or interac
tions have changed. A usually social child or young person who withdraws from friends or
activities or a usually calm child or young person who begins to display erratic behaviour are often
noticed first in the classroom or early childhood setting. By buil
ding mental health promotion capacity,
early childhood and school professionals will be helped to recognise where changes in behaviour or
interactions may be an early indicator of a mental health concern and respond. An effective response may
be to consult
with someone else in the school who has appropriate knowledge and skills or make a
referral for the child or young person to receive professional support. Early childhood and school staff
already have a range of generalised skills and practices, such as l
istening and relationship skills, that
that can be used and built upon to help staff understand their role in mental health promotion.
