Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Lesson 1Lesson 1

Building Health SkillsBuilding Health Skills

Do NowDo Now

Journal Entry #2Journal Entry #2

Write down two important personal goals to Write down two important personal goals to improve your health and list the steps improve your health and list the steps you will take to achieve it.you will take to achieve it.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Lesson 1Lesson 1

Objectives:Objectives:1.1. explain how health skills contribute to explain how health skills contribute to

total healthtotal health2.2. describe how effective communication describe how effective communication

skills and the use of refusal skills can skills and the use of refusal skills can benefit one’s healthbenefit one’s health

3.3. evaluate media messages to make evaluate media messages to make informed, healthful choicesinformed, healthful choices

Building Health SkillsBuilding Health Skills

Health ConceptsHealth Concepts Developing good health skills are essential to Developing good health skills are essential to

achieving total health and wellness. achieving total health and wellness. Learning to evaluate messages from the Learning to evaluate messages from the

various media can help you make informed, various media can help you make informed, healthful choices. healthful choices.

Learning to obtain and evaluate information is Learning to obtain and evaluate information is an important skill in our fast-paced information an important skill in our fast-paced information age.age.

Building Health SkillsBuilding Health Skills

Activity 1 – Turn to a NeighborActivity 1 – Turn to a NeighborDefine the following terms and provide Define the following terms and provide

examples for each term:examples for each term:1.1. Health SkillsHealth Skills2.2. CommunicationCommunication3.3. Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills4.4. Self-esteemSelf-esteem5.5. StressStress

What are Health Skills?What are Health Skills?

Health skillsHealth skills are specific tools and strategies are specific tools and strategies that lead to better and more informed health that lead to better and more informed health choices. choices.

Health skills are for use not just now, during Health skills are for use not just now, during your teen years, but throughout your entire life.your teen years, but throughout your entire life.

As with other skills you may have mastered, As with other skills you may have mastered, developing health skills takes time and developing health skills takes time and practice. practice.

The immediate and long-term benefits to your The immediate and long-term benefits to your physical, social, and mental/emotional health, physical, social, and mental/emotional health, however, make the effort worthwhile. however, make the effort worthwhile.

Social Health SkillsSocial Health SkillsCommunication and Refusal SkillsCommunication and Refusal Skills

One of the traits of being a health literate person One of the traits of being a health literate person is being an effective communicator.is being an effective communicator.

Communicating effectively means being able to Communicating effectively means being able to express your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas in express your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas in many different ways and forms. many different ways and forms.

It also includes the ability to say no to behaviors It also includes the ability to say no to behaviors that threaten your health and well-being.that threaten your health and well-being.

Learning and applying these two skills, Learning and applying these two skills, communicating and saying no are essential to communicating and saying no are essential to good social health. good social health.

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

CommunicationCommunication is a process through which you is a process through which you send messages to and receive messages from send messages to and receive messages from others. others.

You may not think of communicating as a skill. You may not think of communicating as a skill. You may be saying to yourself, “I already know You may be saying to yourself, “I already know how to communicate”—but do you? how to communicate”—but do you?

If, in a heated moment, you and a friend shout If, in a heated moment, you and a friend shout at each other so loudly that neither of you at each other so loudly that neither of you hears the other, are you communicating?hears the other, are you communicating?

Obviously, there is more to communication Obviously, there is more to communication than just words. than just words.

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Effective communication involves not only Effective communication involves not only making yourself heard but also being a good making yourself heard but also being a good listener. listener.

The skill of communicating includes the The skill of communicating includes the following: following: Clearly say what you mean. Clearly say what you mean. Pay attention to how you say something. Pay attention to how you say something. Be a good listener. Be a good listener. Be aware of your facial expressions and gestures.Be aware of your facial expressions and gestures.

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

Activity 2 – Class Discussion Activity 2 – Class Discussion

Good Communication requires good Good Communication requires good listening skills. Name three features of listening skills. Name three features of a good listener. a good listener.

Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills

Refusal skillsRefusal skills are techniques that can help; you are techniques that can help; you refuse when you are urged to take part in refuse when you are urged to take part in unsafe or unhealthful behaviors. unsafe or unhealthful behaviors.

This strategy includes the following: This strategy includes the following: 1.1. Say no.Say no. Do this calmly at first. Use an expression Do this calmly at first. Use an expression

such as “Sorry, I don’t want to” or “I’d rather not.” such as “Sorry, I don’t want to” or “I’d rather not.”

2.2. Explain why you are refusing.Explain why you are refusing. State your State your feelings. Tell the other person that the suggested feelings. Tell the other person that the suggested activity or behavior goes against your values or activity or behavior goes against your values or beliefs. beliefs.

Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills(strategies continued)(strategies continued)

3.3. Suggest alternatives to the proposed activity.Suggest alternatives to the proposed activity. Give a list of safe, healthful activities. Speak Give a list of safe, healthful activities. Speak calmly. calmly.

4.4. Back up your words using body language.Back up your words using body language. Make it clear that you don’t intend to back down Make it clear that you don’t intend to back down from your position. Look directly into the other from your position. Look directly into the other person’s eyes. person’s eyes.

5.5. Leave if necessary.Leave if necessary. If the other person continues If the other person continues to put pressure on you, or simply won’t take no for to put pressure on you, or simply won’t take no for an answer, just walk away. Carry money in case an answer, just walk away. Carry money in case you have to call for a ride or take a taxiyou have to call for a ride or take a taxi

Refusal SkillsRefusal Skills

Activity 3 – Independent Work Activity 3 – Independent Work Mike, a freshman, has just become a member of Mike, a freshman, has just become a member of

his school’s track team. Today in the locker his school’s track team. Today in the locker room just before practice, two of the older room just before practice, two of the older members of the team offered Mike a pill that members of the team offered Mike a pill that they said would improve his time in the 100-they said would improve his time in the 100-meter dash. Mike has heard bad things about meter dash. Mike has heard bad things about such pills and does not want to take chances such pills and does not want to take chances with his health. Explain in detail the steps Mike with his health. Explain in detail the steps Mike can take to refuse the offer.can take to refuse the offer.

Mental and Emotional Mental and Emotional Health SkillsHealth Skills

Another trait of a health-literate person is being a Another trait of a health-literate person is being a responsible, productive citizen. This means, in responsible, productive citizen. This means, in part, respecting yourself and others. Doing this part, respecting yourself and others. Doing this is sometimes easier said than done, especially is sometimes easier said than done, especially during the teen years.during the teen years.

Two health skills, building Two health skills, building self-esteemself-esteem and and managing managing stressstress, can help restore perspective , can help restore perspective and give you the emotional boost you need and give you the emotional boost you need during these years. during these years.

Building Self-EsteemBuilding Self-EsteemSelf-esteemSelf-esteem is the confidence and worth that you feel is the confidence and worth that you feel

about yourself. Self-esteem affects everything about yourself. Self-esteem affects everything you do, think, feel, and are. you do, think, feel, and are.

Strategies for building self-esteem includes:Strategies for building self-esteem includes: 1.1. Examining the messages you send yourselfExamining the messages you send yourself. .

Are you one of your own worst critics? If so, Are you one of your own worst critics? If so, stop sending yourself negative messages. If stop sending yourself negative messages. If you need to improve in a given area, don’t put you need to improve in a given area, don’t put yourself down. Instead, find a positive way to yourself down. Instead, find a positive way to state your goals.state your goals.

2.2. Focusing on the things you do well.Focusing on the things you do well. ThinkThink about past successes you’ve had. This will about past successes you’ve had. This will gradually help you build more opportunities gradually help you build more opportunities for success and expand the range of things for success and expand the range of things you are good at doing. you are good at doing.

Stress Management SkillsStress Management Skills

StressStress is the body’s and mind’s reactions is the body’s and mind’s reactions to everyday demands. to everyday demands. Your ride to school is late, making Your ride to school is late, making you you late.late.In class, you realize your class project is In class, you realize your class project is due in two days. Situations like these are due in two days. Situations like these are sources of sources of stress.stress.

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. Stress is an unavoidable part of life.

Stress Management SkillsStress Management Skills

However, when stress threatens to become However, when stress threatens to become overwhelming, there overwhelming, there are are solutions. These solutions. These include:include:

1.1. Re-channeling your energyRe-channeling your energy.. Redirect all the pent-up Redirect all the pent-up negative energy you are feeling into something negative energy you are feeling into something positive. Work out your frustrations through physical positive. Work out your frustrations through physical activity. activity.

2.2. Relaxing.Relaxing. Take it easy after a hard day. Take it easy after a hard day. 3.3. Laughing.Laughing. When things get tough, the tough get When things get tough, the tough get

laughing. Tune in to your favorite TV sitcom, open a laughing. Tune in to your favorite TV sitcom, open a favorite book, or get together with friends with whom favorite book, or get together with friends with whom you have a good time. you have a good time.

Total Health SkillsTotal Health Skills

Another trait of a health-literate person is being a Another trait of a health-literate person is being a self-directed self-directed learner—having the ability to learner—having the ability to gather and use reliable health information.gather and use reliable health information.

Mastering this skill, and seeking help when you Mastering this skill, and seeking help when you have a problem, can benefit your total health have a problem, can benefit your total health and well-being. and well-being.

Developing an awareness of illness symptoms Developing an awareness of illness symptoms and staying up-to-date on medical research are and staying up-to-date on medical research are habits that can actually help prolong your life. habits that can actually help prolong your life.

Accessing Reliable Accessing Reliable InformationInformation

We live in an information age. With the wealth of messages you We live in an information age. With the wealth of messages you receive some are conflicting. How can you tell what to believe receive some are conflicting. How can you tell what to believe and what to disregard? The following strategies can help:and what to disregard? The following strategies can help:

1.1. Consider the source.Consider the source. Pay attention to the reputation of a Pay attention to the reputation of a given media source; is the source widely considered a given media source; is the source widely considered a “popularized” of fad information or a legitimate provider of “popularized” of fad information or a legitimate provider of documented facts?documented facts?

2.2. Consider the “angle.”Consider the “angle.” Are advertisements for products that Are advertisements for products that are “guaranteed to make you look and feel better” as reliable are “guaranteed to make you look and feel better” as reliable as newspaper reports on health advances? Of course not. as newspaper reports on health advances? Of course not. When evaluating a media source, ask yourself, “Are the When evaluating a media source, ask yourself, “Are the publishers of this information trying to sell me something? Do publishers of this information trying to sell me something? Do they have my best interests in mind?” When advisable, they have my best interests in mind?” When advisable, proceed with caution.proceed with caution.

Getting HelpGetting Help

Meeting life’s demands means facing problems Meeting life’s demands means facing problems when they arise. When the problems are big, when they arise. When the problems are big, this means being able to reach out and ask for this means being able to reach out and ask for help. help.

When you need help with a problem: When you need help with a problem: Think of people in your life who can offer Think of people in your life who can offer

assistance. assistance. Learn about resources in your community.Learn about resources in your community. Learn about print and electronic resources.Learn about print and electronic resources.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Lesson 1Lesson 1ReviewReview

1.1. How can health skills contribute to total How can health skills contribute to total health?health?

2.2. How can effective communication skills How can effective communication skills and the use of refusal skills can benefit and the use of refusal skills can benefit one’s health?one’s health?

3.3. How can evaluating media messages How can evaluating media messages help you make informed, healthful help you make informed, healthful choices? choices?