St. Clair County Schools

What are Mental Health Challenges

Mental health can be defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully” (WHO, 2007). A mental health challenge would be any condition that would hinder an individual’s ability to fully cope and enjoy a productive life. Mental health challenges include both mental disorders and other conditions that may affect or influence a person’s thoughts, feeling, behavior, or ability to live a productive life.

A growing number of youths experience a wide variety of mental health challenges. Between the ages of 12 to 17, 11.4 percent of youth reported having a major depressive episode during the past year. 11 percent of school-aged children have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The most common mental health challenge in children and adolescents is anxiety disorders.

Sadly, many who struggle with mental health challenges do not seek help, and some who desire help do not have access to professional services.

If you or your family member are feeling anxious or depressed, remember that help is only a few clicks away. Check out our resource page for helpful information and the Selfcare/Wellness page for tips on managing stress.

If you or your loved one is in a crisis situation, please utilize the resource list below:

• Crisis Hotline: 205-323-7777
• UTALK (Formerly Teen Link): 205-328-5465
• Crisis Text Hotline: Text 741741
• Kid's Help Line: Text or call 205-328-5437
• Rape Response: 205-323-7273
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

To report abuse, call your local law enforcement agency or the St. Clair County DHR hotline: 205-812-2100

If you have an immediate emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

What is Selfcare?

Practicing self-care is an important way to minimize mental health challenges before they start. Self-care can be understood as simply caring for one's own self and personal needs. This means we deliberately find ways that can help us to regulate emotional stress. It is important to start practicing self-care early so that it becomes a lifelong habit.

Here are some self-care tips you could try practicing:

• Get a routine and stick to it: Knowing what you are doing from day to day helps calm your mind and sets reasonable expectations.
• Get outside: Try going outside and exercising. Connecting with the outdoors while also getting energy out through exercising can help remove tension and stress.
• Eat healthy: Ok, this is hard, but you should at least eat regularly. Eating regularly (and hopefully healthily) keeps your body regulated.
• Practice good hygiene: Remember that doing the normal, daily tasks of bathing and brushing your teeth is self-care. Cleaning the body can help clean the mind.
• Know what makes you happy: What helps you relax and destress? Some people like jogging. Others like reading or playing video games. Know yourself what helps you calm down and regulate.
• Be social: Find people that make a positive difference in you and enjoy their company. Being social is fun and good for us.
• Stay consistent: Self-care is not a one-time event. Self-care is a lifestyle that helps keep you going from day to day. Being consistent in taking care of yourself allows you to be the best you, today and tomorrow.

Coping with Stress

To cope is to “deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties” (Merriam-Websters). Every year brings new experiences, and everyone will have to cope with some type of diverse circumstances. Knowing that we will have difficulties should encourage us to prepare for them by learning coping skills.

Here is a list of skills that may help you during your time of need:

• Be positive. Use positive self-talk. Do not talk badly about yourself.
• Talk it out. Find time to talk to a friend, parent, or other trusted adult (like your school counselor).
• Practice calming skills.
  • Take deep, controlled breaths.
  • Count to 10 and then back down to 0.
  • Bring yourself back into the present moment through your five senses. Close your eyes. What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you taste? What do you feel with your hands? Open your eyes, what do you see?
• Practice self-care. Check out the What is Selfcare tip here!
• Get sleep. Get enough sleep, but just not in class.
• Listen to music. Music helps many cope and can also get energy out if you sing along.
• Write. Try writing out your feelings to help you express yourself and accept the situation.
• Surround yourself. Keep your family and friends near. Fight the urge to be isolated. Community can help us heal and deal with stress. 

Remember, coping with stress is normal and can be difficult. If you are finding it hard to cope, then reach out to your teacher, counselor, or mental health liaison for help. 

Helping Others

Coming Soon!