This document discusses mental health issues, body image, asthma, and strategies to improve children's health. It provides statistics on the prevalence of mental health issues like depression and suicide among youth. Body image issues like anorexia, bulimia and influences from media are also examined. The patterns, effects and causes of asthma in children are outlined. Finally, the document proposes school-based programs and initiatives to address these health risks through literacy, visits from Healthy Harold, and healthy canteen options.

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LISA BAKER
11539758
MENTAL
HEALTH
BODY
IMAGE
ASTHMA
HOW CAN
WE HELP?
BETTER
HEALTH
FOR
AUSTRALIA
N YOUTHS

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WHAT ARE MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES?
 MENTALLY ILL:
 NOT COPING WITH OBSTACLES
 NOT FEELING AS IF YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THE
ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE
 MENTAL ILLNESSES INCLUDE:
 DEPRESSION
 SCHIZOPHRENIA
 SELF-HARM
 SUICIDE
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES:
PATTERNS:
• 14% AGED 4-17
HAVE MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES
• DEPRESSION:
- 1-3% SHOW
SOME MAJOR
SYMPTOMS
- 15-40% SHOW A
FEW MINOR
SYMPTOMS
• SUICIDE:
- LEADING CAUSE
OF FATAL
INJURY
- 23% DEATHS
AGED 15-24
EFFECTS:
• YOUNG CHILDREN:
- DROP IN
SCHOOL
GRADES
- LOSS OF
FRIENDS
• ADOLESCENTS:
- ALCOHOL
ABUSE
- DRUG USE
- LOSS OF SELF-
WORTH
CAUSES:
• INCREASED STRESS
• MEDIA
STEREOTYPES
• DISCRIMINATION
• NEGATIVE PEER
EXPECTATIONS
• REMOTENESS
• LOW
SOCIOECONOMIC
STATUS
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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WHAT IS BODY IMAGE?
 BODY IMAGE IS “THE MENTAL PICTURE WE CREATE OF
OURSELVES” (RUSKIN, ET AL, 2013)
 PEOPLE CAN HAVE A POSTIVE OR NEGATIVE IMAGE OF
THEMSELVES
 EXAMPLES OF EATING DISORDERS:
 ANOREXIA
 BULIMIA
 BINGE EATING
 OBESITY
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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BODY IMAGE:
PATTERNS:
• ANOREXIA:
- MOST COMMON
IN FEMALES
- 1 IN 200 GIRLS
- 400 NEW CASES
EVERY YEAR
- 10-20%
MORTALITY
• BULIMIA:
- 20-30% OF
FEMALES ARE
BULIMIC
EFFECTS:
• DECREASE IN
FITNESS LEVEL
• LOW SELF ESTEEM
• MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES
• BAD NUTRITION
• EATING DISORDERS
CAUSES/INFLUENCES:
• MEDIA
• STEREOTYPES
• FAMLY PROBLEMS
• CULTURAL
REASONING
• PEER PRESSURE
• HOW PHYSICALLY
FIT YOU ARE
• SPORTS EVENTS
WITH WEIGHT
CLASSES
1 IN 6 UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS HAVE
BULIMIA!
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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WHAT IS ASTHMA?
 ASTHMA IS A REPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT CAUSES
DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING
 ASTHMA CAN BE BROUGHT ON BY A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT TRIGGERS THAT ARE A PART OF OUR
EVERYDAY LIVES.
 WHEN SYMPTONS ARE QUITE BAD, AN ASTHMA ATTACK
CAN OCCUR. THESE CAN BE FATAL.
 SYPTOMS INCLUDE:
 WHEEZING
 SHORT, SHARP BREATHS
 TIGHT CHEST
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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ASTHMA:
PATTERNS:
• MOST COMMON
CHRONIC ILLNESS
IN CHILDREN –
HIGHEST
PREVALENCE IS
BETWEEN 5-9
YEARS OLD
• THE PREVALENCE
OF ASTHMA HAS
DECREASED
• 1 IN 10 PEOPLE
HAVE ASTHMA
• ASTHMA FATALITIES
DROPPED FROM
1997-2009 BY 45%
(RUSKIN)
EFFECTS:
• EXCLUSION FROM
SOME ACTIVITIES
• LOW SELF ESTEEM
• DROP IN SCHOOL
GRADES
• DAYS OFF SCHOOL
(AIHW)
CAUSES:
• ALLERGENS
• SMOKE
• SPORTS
• EMOTIONS
• AIR POLLUTION
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM: (WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, N.D.), (AUSTRALIAN
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE, 2011) & (RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES, 2013)

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PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
 RESTING HEART RATE
LOWERED
 HIGHER STROKE
VOLUME
 LARGER CARDIAC
OUTPUT
 LARGER VO2 MAX
 CARDIOVASULAR AND
MUSCULAR FITNESS
 DECREASED RISK OF
DISEASES E.G.
DIABETES
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM: (RUSKIN, PROCTOR & NEEVES,
2013) & (WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, N.D.)

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SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
 HELPS MINIMISE
ANXIETY
 IMPROVES LEVELS OF
SLEEP
 BOOSTS POSITIVE
MOODS
 HELPS YOUNG
CHILDREN WITH TEAM
WORK AND PROBLEM
SOLVING
 DEVELOPS SELF-
REGULATIONINFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM: (FOX, 2007) & (MCDEVITT,
ORMROD, CUPIT, CHANDLER & ALOA, 2013)

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STRATEGIES USED BY SCHOOLS TO
IMPROVE CHILDREN’S HEALTH:
 IN SCHOOLS, A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH ISSUES
IS BEST.
 INTRODUCE THESE HEALTH RISKS THROUGH LITERACY
– LIVING WITH THE BLACK DOG.
 HEALTHY HAROLD VISITS
 FRUIT BREAK
 HEALTHY CANTEENS
 JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM:
(LEGAR, YOUNG, BLANCHARD &
PERRY, N.D.) & (WHAT’S IT ALL
ABOUT, N.D.)

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REFERENCES:
 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011). Asthma in
Australia. Retrieved from:
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129
544677
 Fox, K. (1999). Public health nutrition. Cambridge Journals. 2(3a).
p.411-418. Retrieved from:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=onl
ine&aid=554844&fileId=S1368980099000567
 Legar, L. Young, I. Blanchard, C. Perry, M. (n.d.). Promoting health
in schools. Retrieved from:
http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/117385/P
HiSFromEvidenceToAction_WEB1.pdf
 McDevitt, T., Ormrod, J., Cupit, G., Chandler, M. & Aloa, V. (2013),
Child development and education. Australia: Pearson.

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REFERENCES CONTINUED:
 Ruskin, R., Proctor, K., & Neeves, D. (2013) Outcomes 2:
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education HSC
Course. (5th ed.). Brisbane: Jacaranda.
 What it’s all about. (n.d.). Retrieved from:
https://www.healthyharold.org.au/all_abbout.aspx
 World Health Organisation. (n.d.) Causes of asthma. Retrieved
from: http://www.who.int/respiratory/asthma/causes/en/
 World Health Organisation. (n.d.). Physical activity. Retrieved
from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs385/en/