Thank you for testing your mental health knowledge.
Overall, this quiz was designed to offer information about the types of mental health struggles children and youth may be experiencing.
With the return to school in September, it’s important to speak with your kids about proper sleep and eating habits as they have a direct impact on academic success and overall mental well-being. Just those two elements alone can make a dramatic difference.
If your child/ youth are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed about attending school, making friends, etc. reach out to Pathstone. We can talk about ages and stages to ensure your child is on track, we can also offer helpful strategies and tools. Sometimes kids aren’t ready to talk, but we are happy to meet with parents and caregivers, offering you the support you need to support your children.
- Pathstone’s Crisis & Support Line is at the ready, call 1-800-263-4944 to be connected to our team, 24/7 (Niagara Region)
- Our 9 In-person Walk-In Clinics are located across the Niagara Region for in-person or video counseling support (Monday-Friday).
- For more information, visit www.pathstonementalhealth.ca/walk-in-clinic/ or call 1-800-263-4944.
Additional resources can also be found on our Pathstone TV page – Our experts explore topics in these 3 to 4 minute episodes ranging from Anxiety to Meditation, Grief, Resilience, Stress Management and everything in between. Pathstone TV – Pathstone Mental Health
The Quiz Questions and Answers:
1. One in every 5 children will experience a mental health struggle.
True. That statistic is expected to increase to every 1 in 4 children as a result of the pressures caused by the pandemic.
2. Most mental health struggles start in childhood.
True. Approximately 70% of all mental health struggles can be traced back to childhood. That’s why early identification and intervention is so critical and can lead to a better school experience and better health outcomes in life.
3. Children with good mental health are:
- Happy and positive about themselves most of the time
- Learn well
- Can manage and identify their feelings (worry, sad, angry)
- Get along well with family and friends
- Are kind to themselves.
4. Children being sad often, is just part of life.
False. Persistent sadness that lasts two weeks or more is not normal. Withdrawing from, or avoiding social interactions, loss of interest in things they once loved, all could be indications of a mental health struggle. Seek support through Pathstone or if outside of the Niagara Region, from a local children’s mental health provider.You can find one here: https://www.cmho.org/findhelp/
5. The vast majority of students use social media every day.
True. Almost one-third (91%) of students in grades 7-12 use social media on a daily basis. Teens addicted to social media can spend up to 9 hours a day on it. Teens who spend more than 5 hours a day on social platforms are twice more likely to suffer from depression and experience suicidal thoughts.
6. Nearly 50% of students are constantly worried about their weight or body shape.
True. Almost half (46%) of students are preoccupied or constantly worried about their weight, and or the shape of their body.Through the pandemic, Pathstone saw increased cases of eating disorders that involved anorexia, bulemia, anorexia-athletica (over excercising) and binging. Eating disorders ARE a mental health issue and should be treated as such. Often times, it is not about food, but instead a way to cope with another mental health struggle such as anxiety or depression.
7. Having a positive body image is ONLY liking what you see in the mirror.
False. There are actually 4 aspects that make up your body image:
- The way you see yourself (Perceptual, in the mirror)
- The way you feel about the way you look (Affective, self-talk)
- The thoughts and beliefs you feel about your body (Cognitive, what you tell yourself)
- The things you do in relation to the way you look (Behavioural, what you do physically with yourself)