Encouraging Healthy Coping Skills

I was talking to a counseling friend/colleague a few years back about the increase of student mental health issues over the past five years.  In asking her what she thought was going on, she must've been thinking about it too, because she instantly replied, "lack of coping skills."  The light bulb went on, and I thought that's exactly it.  And I would add the lack of healthy coping skills.  A lot of preteens and teens are turning to vaping because they think it helps them with their anxiety and stress level, when in fact it is making their anxiety much worse.  So I would say a lot of our teens have either zero coping skills or unhealthy coping skills.  The development and practice of healthy coping skills leads to resilience.  Does your child have a hobby?  Are you modeling a hobby or positive coping skills for your child?  

The teen brain gets stuck in negative self talk and "all or none" thinking.  We have to model and encourage positive self talk for our children and students.  Yes, this time in their life is tough, but this feeling and this time won't last forever.  Having some healthy coping skills will help them navigate the stressors of life.  Here are a few suggestions:

• An art journal or photo journal (A lot of students shy away from writing in a traditional journal or diary, so make it a bit more appealing.)
• Listening to their favorite music
• Time for a hobby or family project
• Traditions, such as Taco Tuesday (going for ice cream as a family on a certain day)  No, they are not too cool for this, even if they grumble.  Everybody's gotta eat!
• Grounding exercises, using the five senses (what you see, hear, smell, feel, taste)
• Time in nature or with a pet

I have started this activity with elementary students who are experiencing stress.  I found it several years ago at Marisa's stress buster pizza activity printable  It is simply a stress buster pizza.  It can be completed with a group of students or individually.  Then students make and color and decorate their slice of pizza with their "toppings."  Students are reminded to use their own menu of healthy coping skills when experiencing a problem or stress.  What are some of your healthy coping skills?