At Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School our focus is and always has been on increasing our students' academic achievement while preparing them for college and career success. Research has demonstrated that the health and wellness of students is strongly linked to their ability to perform in the classroom. This section of our website is designed to share information and resources with our students and their families that will help them investigate and make better decisions related to their health and wellness. The health and wellness of our students encompasses a broad range of areas physically and mentally. This collection of information and resources is designed to:
- be helpful
- start conversations between our students and
their families
- lead to better lifestyle choices
- help in identification of when professional
help is needed
- raise awareness among our valued community
members
We welcome the suggestions and
recommendations of new research and resources to potentially include in the
future. Students and their families are encouraged to also research these
topics as the science related to information in this collection of resources is
evolving constantly.
Statement from Experts
on the Upcoming Release of 13 Reasons Why, Season 2 from Suicide Voices of Education and shared on the Stanford
Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences website.
Nutrition
Eating right is an essential component
of living a healthy lifestyle. Food and drink fuel our bodies for the
physical and mental activities of the day. Your diet can help you:
- maintain a healthy weight
- reduce risks of chronic diseases
- promote your overall health and
wellness.
Nutrition plays a vital role in providing you the energy for all of a day's activities and can increase your ability to perform physically and mentally. Eating healthy has also been linked to higher test scores and increased academic achievement. Click here to access resources and information about
nutrition.
Sleep
Sleep is one of the most important
essential things we do to stay healthy. Teenagers need at least 8 hours
and on average 9.25 hours a night of uninterrupted sleep for the body to be
rejuvenated for the next day. This is often a difficult obstacle for high
school students due to extra-curricular activity commitments, school work, a
job, and social activities. If sleep is interrupted or cut short the body
does not have time to repair muscles, release hormones related to appetite and
growth, and consolidate memories. Click here for more specific information about sleep and its
importance.
Physical Activity
Exercise and physical activity are not just ways to "get in shape" they are also critical to maintaining a happy and healthy life. The obvious and well known benefits include:
- increasing strength in your muscles
- reducing fat
- improving the condition of your heart and
lungs
- promoting strong bone, muscle, and joint
development.
- improve your quality of sleep
- relieve stress
- increase your energy and self esteem
- reduce the potential for depression.
Research has also indicated that
physical activity and exercise stimulates the brain, which can increase
academic achievement and improve performance on tests. Click here for more information on the positive impact exercise and
physical activity can have on your health and wellness.
Mental Health
Mental Health is not just
the absence of a disease or mental health disorder, it is much more. As
youth grow and mature, they achieve mental and emotional milestones. This
process can be described as achieving developmental competence, or the ability
to navigate social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral tasks at different
developmental stages. A part of achieving developmental competence is
adhering to cultural and social norms as well as developing a positive sense of
identity, efficacy, and well-being. (youth.gov and Eccles & Gootman,
2009)
Mental Health is at the
very least equally important as physical health if not more important for
children as it relates to their wellness in being prepared to learn at
school. Unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding, stigma, and
limited resources mental health needs often go untreated. It is essential
that we work as a community to better understand the mental health and wellness
needs of our students while promoting their well-being through the environment,
education, and supports we provide them. This entails being aware of and
identifying risk factors, and ensuring that protective factors are in place to
support our children. Click
here for more information
and resources related to Mental Health.
If you have concerns about
the mental health or well-being of yourself, a friend, or loved one, especially
as it relates to self-harm or suicide, please contact local authorities
immediately or dial 911.
Brecksville Police
Department: 440.526.8900
Broadview Heights Police
Department: 440.526.5400
National Suicide Hotline:
1.800.273.8255 (24 hours a day)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME
to 741741 from anywhere in the US (24 hours a day)
GRIT
Researcher and professor
Angela Duckworth has defined Grit as perseverance and passion for goals.
Her work has identified Grit as the essential variable to success, follow
through, and attainment of goals. Her studies indicate that it can be a
better predictor of success than IQ and talent in a wide range of careers,
education, and even personal areas of life. Click here to access more information
and resources about Grit.
Dimensions of Wellness
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identifies eight dimensions of wellness to focus on to "optimize" your health. The eight dimensions are:
- emotional
- spiritual
- intellectual
- physical
- environmental
- financial
- occupational
- social
Wellness can be compromised by lack of
support, trauma, unhelpful thinking styles, chronic illness/disability, and
substance use. Click
here to learn more about the eight dimensions.
Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Vaping
Experimentation with alcohol and drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don't see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.
Using alcohol and tobacco
at a young age has negative health effects. Some teens will experiment and
stop, or continue to use occasionally without significant problems. Others will
develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant
harm to themselves and possibly others. It is difficult to know which teens
will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems. Teenagers at
risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:
- with a family history of substance
use disorders
- who are depressed
- who have low self-esteem, and
- who feel like they don't fit in or are out of the mainstream
Teenagers abuse a variety
of drugs, both legal and illegal. Legally available drugs include alcohol,
prescribed medications, inhalants (fumes from glues, aerosols, and solvents)
and over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications. The most
commonly used illegal drugs are marijuana (pot), stimulants (cocaine, crack,
and speed), LSD, PCP, opiates or opioid pain killers, heroin, and designer
drugs (Ecstasy). The use of illegal drugs is increasing, especially among young
teens. The average age of first marijuana use is 14, and alcohol use can start
before age 12. The use of marijuana and alcohol in high school has become common.
Often teenagers use other family members' or friends' medications to get high. Additionally, some adolescents misuse their friends' stimulant medications like Ritalin and Adderall.
Drug use is associated with a variety of negative consequences,
including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school failure, and
poor judgment which may put teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned
and unsafe sex, and suicide.
Parents can help prevent
their children from using drugs by talking to them about drug use, open
communication, role modeling, responsible behavior, and recognizing if problems
are developing. Prescription pain killers like opioids should be kept secure
and closely monitored. Any prescription medications that are no longer being
used should not remain in the home.
Warning signs of teenage
alcohol and drug use may include:
Physical: Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes,
and a lasting cough.
Emotional: Personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability,
irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and a
general lack of interest.
Family: Starting arguments, breaking rules, or withdrawing from the
family.
School: Decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in grades, many
absences, truancy, and discipline problems.
Social problems: New friends who are less interested in standard home and
school activities, problems with the law, and changes to less conventional
styles in dress and music.
Some of the warning signs
listed above can also be signs of other problems. Parents may recognize signs
of trouble and possible use of alcohol and other drugs with their teenager. If
you have concerns you may want to consult a physician to rule out physical
causes of the warning signs. This should often be followed or accompanied by a
comprehensive evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist or mental
health professional.
From the American Academy
of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry website March 2018
Click here to access more
information about Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Vaping.