Managing Your Mental Wellness When Going Back To School
The start of a new school year can be exciting, but it can also make people feel anxious, especially if last year was rough or if the student is entering a new school. While some back-toschool tips are widely known (like getting plenty of sleep and eating a healthy breakfast), there are other ways to start a new school year off with a positive mental health outlook.
Here are five ways to help start the school year off right and mitigate back-toschool mental health stress.
1. Start school with a fresh perspective
Remember that people can change a lot over a summer break. Sure, summer is just a couple of months long, but a lot can happen during that time. New experiences, new friends, lost friends, growth spurts, moving into a new neighborhood, and exposure to new experiences can change a person's perspective. While returning to school may tempt people to act the same as they did the year before, they can try to take on a new attitude. For example:
• If they were mean to others, they could try to be nice.
• If they complained, they could start looking for the good in people and situations.
• If they made poor decisions last year, they could work to use better judgment.
We encourage you to know that now is the time to start new habits and be intentional about behavior.
2. Be true to yourself at school
We encourage you to identify your values and stick to them – such as being kind to others, working hard at school and avoiding alcohol and drugs. Not everyone will like them, and that's okay.
You don’t have to try to impress friends and classmates, especially if doing so violates your values. When you stick to your values, others will usually respect you even if they don't show it.
3. Value meaningful friendships
Positive, emotionally supportive friendships are important for mental wellness. The first couple of weeks back to school can feel chaotic socially as everyone tries to find their place. However, use this opportunity to remind yourself that having just a couple of close friends can be more important and rewarding than having tons of surfacelevel friends.
4. Identify your strengths in and out of school
Starting the new school year with the goal of good grades is admirable and important, so do your best to set yourself up for success. However, working hard at school and learning to recover from setbacks can be just as important in achieving academic goals.
Academic stress is common. If you feel super stressed about school, schedule an occasional 10to-15-minute window to allow yourself to to experience the anxiousness and then engage in wellness tools to work through those emotions. A great place to find tools for mental wellness can be found in the Welltrack Boost courses on the NMConnect app. Then after you practice a mental wellness activity, refocus on your schoolwork so that anxiety doesn't control the rest of your week.
Grades are important, but not everything. Identify what else your enjoy doing and pursue activities beyond academics. For example, a student with lower grades who volunteers in the community still shows wellroundedness.
5. Support yourself emotionally
Many of the most successful and emotionally healthy people at school know that their trusted adult (such as a parent) can be a great ally. Building emotional bridges with your support system opens the door for you to talk about mental health. Find someone that you can talk with daily and share one good thing that happened at school each day.
Know that you are not alone and there are people to talk to when needed. If you need someone to talk with about emotional, mental, behavioral, grief, suicide, or substance use concerns, you can engage in immediate support by calling 855-6627474 or texting 988 CELEBRATE CHILDREN
It’s a celebration of children: Children are the epitome of innocence and purity. It is our duty to protect them and give them a life that allows them to flourish and thrive in all sectors of life. Childhood is an amazing part of the human experience, and no human should lose out on the essence of what it means to be a child.
It’s a celebration of the future: One of the reasons we get out of bed every day is the hope of a better tomorrow. It is essential to understand that our tomorrow is tied to our children. If we can provide a better life to our children, we are automatically working towards making a better future for ourselves and the generations to come.
It’s a celebration of positivity: Hope breeds positivity, and it is this message that National Make A Difference to Children Month addresses loud and clear. No matter how dark the days may seem, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you walk, run, or crawl towards it, you will reach it eventually, and it is this positivity that all humans, especially children, need.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the present moment, without judgment or distraction. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations in a non-judgmental way, while also being aware of your surroundings.
The goal of mindfulness is to cultivate a sense of calm and inner peace, by focusing on the present moment and letting go of worries or distractions. This can be done through a variety of techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, or simply paying attention to your thoughts and feelings as they arise.
One of the key benefits of mindfulness is that it can help reduce stress and anxiety, by helping you to stay centered and focused on the present moment. It can also help improve your overall well-being, by promoting a sense of calm and inner peace.
There are many different ways to practice mindfulness, and what works best for one person may not work as well for another. Some people find it helpful to meditate regularly, while others prefer to engage in mindful activities like yoga or walking in nature. The important thing is to find a practice that works for you, and to make it a regular part of your routine.
Free Mental Health Resources in Cibola:
New Mexico Crisis and Access Line | www.nmcrisisline. com
Crisis and Access Line | 1-855-NMCRISIS | 1-855662-7474 Peer-to-Peer Warmline | 1-855-4NM-7100 | 1-855466-7100 NMConnect smartphone app helps you easily access support in the moment you need it.
Call or Text 988 for quick, free, mental health support.
Village of Milan Police Department has a chaplain program that supports first responders in need. Understanding the wide community need for mental health support, MPD’s chaplain program can also serve the wider public, visit MPD at 619 Uranium Avenue, Milan, New Mexico, 87021.
MPD has a YANA Program to help those feeling lonely or depressed. People in the program will receive a free, daily phone call and will get the opportunity to chat. Visit https://www.villageofmilan. com/y.a.n.a._registration/ index.php for more information.