STRESS LESSONS

Stress Lessons: Tools for Resilience is a resource designed for education professionals, and their partners, who want to help youth develop resilience. Full of psychologically-sound strategies and tools, this resource will help teens develop resilience and positive coping skills. With components for teachers, counsellors, administrators, parents and caregivers, it provides a comprehensive approach that will help young people:

• recognize the signs and symptoms of stress                                                                   
• understand what stress “feels” like
• identify stressors and their impact
• see the upside of stress
• develop/implement coping and problem-solving strategies
• foster an increased sense of well-being.  

This resource is the product of the work of many dedicated people including leading psychologists, school district leaders, principals, guidance counsellors, public health professionals, parents and youth themselves.

“Stress Lessons: Tools for Resiliency provides teens and educators with an opportunity to promote well-being, dialogue and learning, that is directly tied to curriculum. The learning activities are flexible and can be used to benefit the whole school, individual classrooms, or a small group of students. They can also be used by parents, and one-on-one with individual students.” Dr. Deanna Swift, Chief Psychologist and Mental Health Lead Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

This resource is based on a constructivist educational approach that recognizes students come to school with previous knowledge, experience and skills related to stress they can share with others and build on within the classroom and broader school environment.  The program also embraces the value of peer support, as evidence suggests that teens in particular look to their peers (rather than the adults in their lives) when it comes to coping with stress.

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