The Inquiring Mind
Youth
- Unit 1: What’s Happening?
- Unit 2: When is Help Needed?
- Unit 3: What You Can Do
- Unit 4: Coping Strategies
The Inquiring Mind Youth
The Inquiring Mind Youth (TIM Youth) is an evidence-based course specifically designed for young people aged 14-18, delivered in school and community settings. Delivered by certified facilitators, you will participate in discussions, breakout activities, knowledge check activities and watch videos of young people with lived experience. Participants learn how to:
- recognize the signs of good, declining and poor mental health,
- understand the impact of stigma on people living with mental illness,
- use the Mental Health Continuum Tool to talk about mental health, and
- practice strategies to maintain your mental health and build resilience.
To receive a certificate of completion, you are expected to attend all four units.
The Mental Health Continuum Tool
Click on the signs and indicators of the Mental Health Continuum Tool to ask yourself, “How am I doing?”.
It will help you notice where you are on the continuum and help you talk about any changes in yourself with friends and family.
To reset the tool, refresh the page. This tool is not intended for diagnostic purposes.
| Healthy | Reacting | Injured | Ill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changes in Mood |
Calm/Content Self-Confident Healthy Mood Changes |
Occasional Nervousness Occasionally experience self-doubt, and sadness Irritable/Impatient |
Feelings of Anxiety Loss of self-confidence, apathy, and persistent sadness Frequent feelings of anger |
Excessive anxiety/panic Feelings of depression, numbness, and apathy Severe anger and rageful feelings |
| Changes in Thinking and Attitude |
Good sense of humour and optimistic Healthy attitude and thinking patterns Can concentrate and focus on tasks(homework, reading a book, job tasks, home chores) Able to cope and handle demands or priorities |
Change in your typical sense of humour Occasional focus on negative thoughts Occasionally distracted or losing focus Some difficulty and/or procrastination |
Frequent inappropriate and/or no sense of humour Frequent focus on negative thoughts Frequently distracted or losing focus Frequently unable to cope |
Severe anger and rageful feelings Severe pessimism and hopelessness Obsessive focus on negative thoughts and/or suicidal thoughts Unable to concentrate, difficulty thinking or loss of memory |
| Changes in Behaviour and Performance |
Healthy physical activity and socializing with friends/family Completes tasks (schoolwork, work tasks, and/or extra-curriculars) Physically present and engaged (school, work, home, and social activities) |
Decreased physical activity and socializing Some difficulty completing tasks Present but less engaged |
Often avoid physical activity and socializing Frequent issues completing tasks Frequently absent, or not engaged |
Isolate or withdraw from physical activity and socializing Unable to complete tasks Absent from school, work, home, and social activities |
| Physical Changes |
Healthy sleep patterns Healthy appetite Feeling energetic Good personal hygiene |
Occasional trouble sleeping Some change in appetite Occasional lack of energy Occasional neglect |
Frequent trouble sleeping Frequent change in appetite and/or noticeable weight change Frequently tired Frequent neglect |
Unable to fall/stay asleep Excessive change in appetite and/or drastic weight change Always physically exhausted Unable to maintain hygiene |
| Changes in Addictive Behaviours |
No engagement with substances (alcohol, smoking, vaping, cannabis) Responsible engagement (gaming, social media use, shopping) No negative impact on areas of life (school, health, finances) |
Experimenting with substances Increased engagement Occasional negative impact |
Increased engagement with substances Struggle to control engagement Frequent negative impact |
Unable to control use of substances Unable to control engagement Serious negative impact |
Actions to Take
All good. Continue practicing self-care.
Check in… be aware!
Definitely talk to an adult about what’s going on.
Get help NOW! This is serious.