Mental and Emotional Health Project

• Learn to identify when you are feeling stressed, including physical and emotional signals
• Learn about key concepts of stress
• Practice journaling, deep breathing, or walking
• Identify adults who can help

• Keep a journal to record times and causes of stress
• Explore how lifestyle changes like positive self-talk, mindfulness, and getting enough sleep
• Set one or two goals that will help you prevent stress

• Learn how environmental factors contribute to stress
• Research differences in how short-term stress can impact overall health
• Develop a plan to reduce and respond to stress
• Establish long-term self-care strategies

Start a stress management group in your community, focus on art, music, or meditation, develop a presentation to educate others about the impacts of stress, start a club to support youth that need help dealing with stress.

Give a presentation about the importance of youth mental health, stress factors and coping strategies, make an appointment with a legislator to discuss how mental health and stress affect young people’s lives.

Start community classes for stress reduction that include art and physical activity, sell positive promotional items such as stickers or t-shirts.

Explore the creation of wellness apps, mental health assessments or tele-med mental health services.

4-H Camps and Extension Youth Conference!

• Create a poster about mental health awareness
• Map the resources in your community for those that struggle with mental health and stress
• Create a vision board depicting goals and dreams
• Give a presentation on tools youth can use to cope with stress

National 4-H Mental Health Resources

• Planning for My Project Adventure (PA093)
• ND 4-H Project Plan (PA095)
• ND 4-H Plan of Action (PA096)
• ND 4-H Participation Summary for 11-to 19 year-olds (PA098)

Create a Journal
Journaling can be a way for a person to put down their thoughts and feelings to help them reduce their stress. It’s also a great way to be able to express creativity and personality.

Possible supplies:

Notebook, paper, or digital platform

Pens and markers for writing

Stickers, paints, and other decorations

Suggestions:

Include a place on each page for date and time

Decorate some pages with positive sayings or quotes

Include spaces for goals and gratitudes

Now it’s your turn! Make a journal for you or someone you care about.