Bobcat Stories

Whole-Child Wednesday
By Dr. Becky Bone
Bosque School Counselor and WELLBEING/Neuroscience Teacher

Mental Illness Awareness Week is observed from October 5th to 11th. First established in 1990 by Congress, the first full week of October has been designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year’s theme is ‘Building Community: Supporting Mental Well-Being Together’. Mental health is a topic that may be difficult to talk about at first, but the more conversation that happens around this topic, the more destigmatizing it will be for everyone. The truth is, mental health affects everyone. 

One of the ways I introduce this topic to students is through middle school neuroscience class. Students learn about the adolescent brain and how different parts of the brain are responsible for different behaviors. We also learn that brain health is mental health, and that by taking care 
of our brain, we are in fact taking care of our mental health. Dr. Daniel Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA School of Medicine and has written many books about the developing mind of adolescents. I especially love his concept of the ‘Healthy Mind Platter,’ which directly ties daily activities to keeping a healthy brain. 

According to Dr. Siegel, we all need to engage in a variety of activities each day to keep our brains healthy and functioning optimally. The Healthy Mind Platter has seven essential mental activities necessary for optimum mental health in daily life. These seven daily activities make up the full set of ‘mental nutrients’ that our brains need to function at their best. By engaging in each of these activities, you enable your brain to coordinate and balance its activities, which strengthens your brain’s internal connections and your connections with others. 

We all need sleep, exercise, time to focus, time for connection, time to play (and not necessarily video games as the picture indicates), downtime to relax, and time to think and reflect on ourselves. Being able to engage in these activities allows our brain to function at its best, increases our ability to regulate emotions, and helps us deal with the stressors of everyday life, whether it's anxiety about an upcoming test or general worries that all adolescents face. It can help stave off depression and negative thought patterns, increase confidence, and help widen our window of tolerance (a topic we will dive into later this month!). 

Mental health is an important topic for all of us to talk about, and sometimes framing this discussion around brain health can help start the conversation for parents and adolescents. If you are interested in learning more about the adolescent brain and emotions, please check out these books: 

"The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents," by Dr. Lisa Damour 

"The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults," by Frances E. Jensen, MD, with Amy Ellis Nutt 

"The Incredible Teenage Brain: Everything You Need to Know To Unlock Your Teen’s Potential," by Bettina Hohnen, Jane Gilmour, and Tara Murphy 

"Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain," by Daniel Siegel, MD