GoYogiEducate to Meditate.
GoYogi
This summer, GoYogi hosted the first Youth Mental Health in a Changing World Discussion Series. The aim of this discussion series is to raise awareness for mental health issues and fight the stigma against it, so we covered a varied of topics from what mental health is to why its important.
Click below to see what we discussed each day!!
Analyze What Mental Health Is and Why It’s Important
The first day we defined what mental health includes, common myths about mental health, and we talked about the social and gender stereotypes related to mental health and how to be aware of those in society.
How do we define mental health?
Why is mental health important?
Why is it important to have a proactive approach to mental health?
How does mental health affect your daily life?
Defining Stigma
How can we end the stigma against mental health?
Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
On Tuesday, we talked about the impact of social media on mental health. We talked about how social media can affect self-esteem, self-confidence, and thought-processes and emotions. We had conversation about how we can contribute to actual change on social media, especially with current events regarding Black Lives Matter and fighting systemic racism.
Screen Time Activity
Social Media Pros & Cons Fishbowl Debate
How do you feel when you see a picture of your friends hanging out without you? FOMO
Right after you post a picture, how many times do you refresh to see likes/comments?
How do the number of likes make you feel?
How quickly can your mental state change just based on what you see on your phone?
Discuss the topic of validation…why do we feel like we have to post the best version of ourself? What do we want?
Body image for girls and boys
Social media and current events
Dr. Steven Wengel & Dr. Katie Cordts on Anxiety and Depression during Quarantine
On Wednesday, we heard from guest speakers, Dr. Steven Wengel who is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Wellness at UNMC and Dr. Kati Cordts, the Director of Wellness Education & Research at UNMC. They presented topics concerning anxiety/depression during quarantine and in the era of COVID-19. The students were introduced to breathing techniques and positive coping mechanisms during what can be an isolating time.
Daily Stress/Anxiety: Coping Mechanisms and Resilience (Guest Speaker: Vinaya Sivakumar)
We were able to talk to Vinaya Sivakumar, a high school student in India who has experienced mental health issues and shared her personal journey through depression. By hearing from a peer who has struggled with mental health, the students in the course had an in-depth conversation regarding stress/anxiety and how we can use positive coping mechanisms. They also realized how real mental health issues can be, and that several youth struggle with it. They asked questions and learned how to best support a friend going through a tough time.
How Can We Maximize Our Platforms to Create Positive Change in the World? + Discussion on Mindfulness/Meditation
Students created a plan for a summer service project they hope to complete. We understood and applied the difference between social media activism and real-life activism in relation to mental health. We talked about the course as a whole and what we learned over the past week. Additionally, we covered topics such as mindfulness and meditation and how they can be tools to create a resilient mindset during the school year. We also discussed the difference between proactive and reactive solutions, in relation to the service projects and mindfulness practices.
How do you define mindfulness?
What is resilience?