1. Building Health Skills
Ch. 2 Lesson 1
Prepared by V. Morrissey

2. EQ: How do health skills contribute to total health?
Objectives:
Explain how health skills contribute to total health
Describe how effective communication skills and the use of refusal skills can benefit one’s health

3. What Are Health Skills?
Tools and strategies that lead to better health choices.
Health skills are also known as life skills.
These skills provide immediate and long term benefits to your physical, social and mental/emotional health.

4. Three Categories of Health Skills
Social Health Skills
Mental Emotional Health Skills
Total Health Skills
Additional skills fall under each of these categories of health skills.

5. A. Communication Skills
Social Health Skills
A. Communication Skills
Communication – send messages to and receive messages from others
One of the traits of being a health literate person is being an effective communicator. Communicating effectively means being able to express your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas in many different ways. It also includes the ability to say no to behaviors that threaten your well-being.
Learning and applying this skill is essential to good social health.

6. Social Health Skills The skill of communicating includes:
Saying what you mean
How you say something
Being a good listener
Facial expressions and gestures
Write “Did Maya finally call Noah?” on the board.
Ask students to take turns reading it, with each student emphasizing a different word. Which sounded like a straightforward question, which sounded angry or emotional.
Tone and inflection can relay emotions.
Ask students to recall a time when they felt that someone (parent, friend) wasn’t listening to them. Why did they think that (body language).

7. Social Health Skills Refusal Skills
Refusal Skills – techniques that can help you say no
Spending time with people who share the same likes and interests is important for your social development.
It is important, however, to know when another person’s needs and desires conflict with your own. This is when refusal skills can be vital to your well-being.
Imagine a situation where you are asked to do something that you think is wrong.

8. Social Health Skills
Refusal Skills
Say “no”

9. Social Health Skills Refusal Skills Explain why you are refusing
Suggest alternatives
Back up your words using body language
Leave if necessary

10. Mental and Emotional Health Skills
A. Building Self-Esteem
Self-esteem – how you feel about yourself.
Another trait of a health literate person is being a responsible, productive citizen. This includes respecting yourself and others.
This health skill can help, especially during the teen years.

11. Mental and Emotional Health Skills
Building or Improving Self-Esteem
Examine the messages you send yourself
Focus on the things you do well
Ask : “How do we form our self concept?”
We judge ourselves based on how we are treated by others. Discuss how and what other people say and do to you affects how you view yourself.
Child abuse – low self esteem, they think they deserve it.
People telling you that you can’t.
Write down five words that describe your personality and characteristics. (From Journal) How many of these words paint a positive picture? How many are based on how others see you?

12. Mental Emotional Health Skills
Stress Management Skills
Stress – the body’s and mind’s reactions
to everyday demands.
Ask students for a situation or event that might cause “butterflies.” (Public speaking, test, a date) What symptoms accompany these experiences (dry throat, trembling, feeling flushed, nauseated).
These are all symptoms of stress.

13. Mental and Emotional Health Skills
Stress Management Skills
Rechannel your energy
Relaxing
Try laughing

14. 1. Accessing Reliable Information
Total Health Skills
1. Accessing Reliable Information
Consider the source
Consider the “angle”
Another trait of a health-literate person is being a self-directed learner – having the ability to gather and use reliable health information. Mastering this skill, and seeking help when you have a problem can benefit your total health and well-being.

15. Total Health Skills 2. Getting Help People in your life
Community resources
Electronic resources
Avoid giving out personal information to anyone on the internet.
Don’t include personal information in a personal home page.
Stay away from discussion logs which may keep records of your conversations for years afterwards.