Summary

• Emotional health is “is about how we think and feel. It is about our sense of wellbeing, our ability to cope with life events and how we acknowledge our own emotions as well as those of others”

• One model that can be used to support emotional health and happiness is the PERMA model

  • Positive emotion:

  • Engagement: doing things you really like and enjoy (and may or may not be really good at)

  • Relationships

  • Meaning

  • Achievements: small or large

• Strategies for emotional health include:

  • Mindfulness

  • Social connections

  • Sense of purpose

  • Add in as many activities as you enjoy as possible

  • Continuing to develop your gratitude, purpose, and growth mindsets

Mindfulness

• Is about paying attention to the moment with openness, acceptance, and curiosity throughout the day, for example

• Mindful eating

  • Paying attention to the taste and texture of food

  • Chewing longer to appreciate flavours

  • Being aware of the connection between your food choices and the environment

  • You can reflect on your meals in RxFood

• Mindful movements

  • Exercise in nature to appreciate the environment

  • Appreciate your efforts during exercise

  • Breathing and focusing during cardio

• Mindful breathing

  • See more in stress module

Social Connections

• Social connections is about the number, quality, and diversity of relationships that create a sense of belonging, and being cared for, valued, and supported*.

• More quality social connections can improve health

• Aim to have meaningful and regular social exchanges

• Sense of support from friends, families, and others in the community

• Having close bonds with others.

• Feeling loved, cared for, valued, and appreciated by others.

• Having more than 1 person to turn to for support. This includes emotional support when feeling down, and physical support, like getting a ride to the doctor or grocery store, or getting help with childcare on short notice.

• Access to safe public areas to gather (such as parks and recreation centers)

Sense of Purpose

• A greater sense of purpose has been linked to more motivation to make change and improved health

• If you feel you want to increase your sense of purpose, you can develop it in various ways

  • Donate your time, money, or talent

  • Explore different interests to find out what you love to do

  • Reflect on what type of injustices bother you the most

  • Meet new people

  • Ask for feedback from others

  • Surround yourself with positive people

  • Ask yourself the "why's": "why do you live where you live"?, "why do you do what you do"?, "why are you happy in certain moments"?, "Why are you bothered by certain things"? "why do you buy the things you buy"?