Glencoe Health © 2007Chapter 9:
Mental and Emotional ProblemsChapter 9 Parent Letter and ActivitiesDear Parent or Guardian, The current topic of your teen’s health class is mental and emotional
problems. As you may be aware, children and teens do experience depression
and other emotional disorders.
Approximately one in five children and adolescents experience the signs and
symptoms of an
emotional disorder during the course of a year. Your son or daughter will learn
about types of
mental disorders, their symptoms, and treatments Your teen will explore the following topics in this chapter: - Mental Disorders.
- Suicide Prevention.
- Getting Help.
- Understanding Death and Grief.
Your participation in your teen’s health education is important. To
support
our classroom work, please complete one or more of the following activities
with your teen:
Ask your son or daughter to define mental disorder and
name the symptoms of common mental disorders. Ask him or her what the difference
is between mental disorders and short-term feelings of depression, anxiety,
and anger. What are some of the warning signs that people exhibit when they
are having trouble coping with emotional or mental problems. Have your teen
describe his or her strategies for dealing with high-stress situations. Discuss
professional mental health care alternatives should these strategies prove
inadequate in dealing with particular situations. Please plan other activities you think will help your son or daughter develop
an informed
and positive attitude toward mental health issues. Thank you for supporting
our classroom
work. Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss your teen’s health
education. Sincerely, Health Teacher |