Physical Well-being, Stress Management, & Mental Health Resources
Overall Well-being:
Well-being can be described as feeling good, functioning well, and viewing life positively. While there is no consensus around a single definition of well-being, there is general agreement that well-being includes the presence of:
- Positive emotions and moods (e.g., contentment, happiness)
- Awareness and acceptance of full range of emotions
- Overall life satisfaction
- Sense of purpose, fulfillment, and positive functioning
- Positive relationships and perception of life
- Sense of a sustainable condition
Well-being often includes the physical, social, emotional, psychological, and developmental aspects of life. In this toolkit document, you will find wellbeing divided into three categories: physical health, stress management, and mental health.
Physical Health:
Exercise, healthy eating, sleeping the right number of hours, limiting media, washing hands, brushing teeth, good hygiene practices, and a little fresh air all play a role in the military child’s overall well-being. Students who practice these healthy lifestyle habits can enjoy benefits such as higher self-esteem, a better outlook on life, and increased academic attentiveness, motivation, and success. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also say:
“Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions later in life.”
Comprehensive school health and prevention education, community partnerships, and parental engagement and support will ensure a solid foundation for future health and well-being of our youth. In the next couple of pages, you will find guidelines and activities to use for the military child.
Stress Management:
Stress is a normal reaction to everyday pressures. It can be short-term or chronic. Military-connected children and families experience unique stressors. Parents know their child best. When you begin to see changes in their mental health, it is important to address these as soon as possible. Begin with your primary care physician and work with your School Counselor, Military Family Life Counselor, School Nurse, or School Social Worker to find resources or get referrals to a behavioral health provider. Reach out to Military OneSource for non-medical counseling 24/7 help for assistance at 1-800-342-9647 or live chat 24/7: Military One Source Non-Medical Counseling
The National Military Family Association and Bloom Partner’s 2021 survey of military teens reports:
42% of military teens have low mental health status
36% report concerns about food insecurity in their families
Click here to see the statistics. When a person deals with chronic stress, they may encounter these side effects:
- High blood pressure
- Weakened immune system
- Anxiety or even depression
- Excess sweating
- Nausea
- Appetite loss
- Overeating
- Foggy brain
Mental Health:
The World Health Organization defines positive mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” WHO Health and Well-being
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Our mental health will continue to change throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
It is important to know that people with serious mental health challenges can heal and recover with professional help. Often, people do not get the mental health services they need because they do not know where to start.
If you feel the need is urgent, Call or Text 988 for immediate help. You can also ask your primary care doctor, Military Family Life Counselor, school counselor, school nurse, or other health professionals to connect you to the right mental health services in your area. If you do not have a health professional who can assist you, use these resources to find help for yourself, your friends, your family, or your students.
Behavioral Health Services Locator
Millions of Americans have mental and substance use disorders. Find treatment here.Establishing Screentime Boundaries
Screen time consumption and research, establishing boundaries, practical tips, and more.
Anytime & Sometime Foods
Not all food is the same. Some food provides benefits, and some are made for fun.
Healthy Snacks on the Go
Kids often get a lot of their nutrition on the go, so healthy snacks should be quick and easy!
Recipes, Shopping List, Meal Planner
Use these tools to create a healthy eating routine with your family.
Healthy Eating
Cookie Monster teaches us about the delicious foods we can eat to stay healthy.
Talking to Children About War
Most children will learn about war and its consequences through the media or social media. Parents and caregivers can help…The State of Pediatric Mental Health in America
The 2023 report provides valuable insights that clinicians can use to better understand the national prevalence of youth mental health…
Military Child Maltreatment
This fact sheet profiles child maltreatment in military families, and also reviews for providers the key concepts, findings, and interventions…
Traumatic Grief & Military Families
Like adults, children and teens may feel intense sadness and loss, or “grief,” when a person close to them dies.…2023 Children’s Mental Health Report
Reading is a fundamental skill underlying academic achievement, professional success, and full participation in society. But right now, staggering numbers…Promoting Health for Kids
Establishing healthy behaviors to prevent chronic disease is easier and more effective during childhood and adolescence than trying to change…References:
Brading, T. (2020, September 30). Holistic health added to Army Fitness doctrine. U.S. Army. https://www.army.mil
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Gribble, R., Mahar, A. L., Keeling, M., Sullivan, K., McKeown, S., Burchill, S., … & Castro, C. A. (2020). Are we family? A scoping review of how military families are defined in mental health and substance use research. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6(2), 85-119. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2019-0054
Hughes-Kirchubel, L., Wadsworth, S.M. (2018). Introduction to a battle plan for supporting military families. In Hughes- Kirchubel, L., Wadsworth, S., Riggs, D. (eds.), A battle plan for supporting military families (pp. 1-10). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68984-5_1
Klug, H. J. P., & Maier, G. W. (2015). Linking goal progress and subjective well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being, 16(1), 37-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9493-0
Masten, A. S. (2018). Resilience theory and research on children and families: Past, present, and promise. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 12-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12255
Masten, A. S. (2021). MULTISYSTEM RESILIENCE: PATHWAYS TO AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK. Research in Human Development, 18(3), 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427609.2021.1958604 .
Maybery, D. J., Goodyear, M. J., Reupert, A. E., & Harkness, M. K. (2013). Goal setting within family care planning: families with complex needs. The Medical journal of Australia, 199(3), S37–S39. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja11.11179
Mullet, N., Fuss, C., Lyddon, L., Mondloch, D., Neal, S., Nelson Goff, B. S., … & Ruhlmann, L. M. (2021). Finding our new normal: A 10-year follow-up study with US Army veterans and their spouses. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2021.1945986
Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2021). Protecting youth mental health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. US Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK575984/
Pexton, S., Farrants, J., & Yule, W. (2018). The impact of fathers’ military deployment on child adjustment. The support needs of primary school children and their families separated during active military service: A pilot study. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(1), 110–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104517724494
Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, P. H. D. T. P. (2012). The whole-brain child. Random House. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/camh.12053_6
Sigelman, C. K., Friedman, S. L., & Kildon, J. (2019). Communication, context, and well-being among military couples. Military Behavioral Health, 7(4), 363-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2019.1646173
Sullivan, R. M., Cozza, S. J., & Dougherty, J. G. (2019). Children of military families. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 28(3), 337–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.02.004
Theiss, J. A. (2018). Family communication and resilience. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 46(1), 10-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2018.1426706
Disclosure Statement: These tools are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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