Boosting Youth Wellbeing: Strategies for Mental Health

Mental health is a prevalent issue in youth today, requiring a comprehensive understanding of both the factors that support and hinder well-being.

Youth Mental Health Enablers

Certain activities and aspirations can significantly enhance a young person's mental health.

The Power of Basketball & Physical Activity

• Helps her stay physically active.
• Builds social connections with her team.
• Positively affects her by building relationships and accomplishment (PERMA).
• Moves her to the ease end of the River of Life.

Clear Goal: Becoming a Physiotherapist

• Gives a sense of purpose and direction.
• Encourages her to feel motivated and focused.
• This gives her meaning in her studies (PERMA).
• Keeps her on the healthy range of the Mental Health Continuum.

Common Barriers to Youth Wellbeing

Conversely, several challenges can negatively impact a young person's mental state.

Procrastination Due to Phone Usage

• Leads to poor time management and falling behind.
• Increases stress and reduces academic confidence.
• Affects her engagement (PERMA).
• Shifts her to struggling on the Mental Health Continuum.

Impact of Lack of Friendships

• Causes loneliness and isolation during school hours.
• Reduces positive emotions (PERMA).
• Pulls to the dis-ease side of the River of Life.
• Increases risk of low self-esteem.

Developing an Effective Action Plan

Addressing these barriers and strengthening enablers is crucial for long-term well-being.

• Barriers may worsen over time if not addressed.
• Strategic interventions can build better habits.
• Developing friendships and confidence is key.
• Strengthening existing enablers is vital.
• This helps move towards the ease side in the River of Life, supporting long-term well-being.

Personalized Mental Health Strategy: Charlie's Case

Here's an example of a targeted mental health strategy for a young person named Charlie:

• Charlie will join a study group to reduce academic stress and improve focus.
• He will attend a study group 1-2 times a week to help with schoolwork and stay organized.
• It helps him to minimize the barrier of distraction and lack of friendships as it will:
  • Give peer support.
  • Minimize distractions.
  • Make new connections and friends in school.
  • Make schoolwork and goals more manageable.

• This strategy focuses on accomplishment, helping him feel more successful and confident in his learning.
• The support type is an intervention as it directly helps him deal with a challenge he is currently facing.
• A study group allows him to get support in a comfortable and indirect way – without having to talk openly about his feelings and problems.
• This strategy can help build confidence, reduce stress, and form healthy habits.
• The support can help him move further from the dis-ease end of the River of Life and closer to the ease. Also, it can help him from escaping the struggling zone to the healing or healthy part of the Mental Health Continuum.