Our Programs
Increase Life Skills To Youth
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING
Let Mentally Fit speak to you’re:
Mentally Fit Physical Education Program
| Increase physical areas of weakness |
Fitness Testing Goal-setting Tailored physical activities |
Improved fitness Improved mood Improved body image |
| Increase mind-body connection |
Identify body triggers Offer physical experiences such as deep-breathing |
Increased self-awareness Increased concentration |
| Increase social knowledge, interactions, connections, support |
Rules and structure Team sports Corrective social experiences Guided support in positive interactions |
Reduced loneliness Increased positive interactions |
| Increase positive coping to replace maladaptive behaviors |
Identify triggers Physical coping such as walking away, deep breathing |
Reduced aggressive behaviors |
| Increase leadership and assertiveness |
Team captain Responsibility for others Encourage positive interactions |
Improved mood Improved self-esteem |
FITNESS ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Nutritional education is also offered to build on the knowledge and skills that children and youth need to maintain healthy eating lifestyles. This is especially beneficial with the availability of soda, vending machines, and lower availability of high quality foods in lower income neighborhoods
MENTALLY FIT ASSESSMENT
Assessing clients with appropriate tools is an evidence-based strategy that we integrate into our practice. We use the state standard of fitness assessment, the California Physical Fitness Test (PFT). The PFT assesses the following five key areas of fitness:
Clients are also assessed for their gain in knowledge in areas such as the standards of fitness for their own age, height, and weight. The testing outcomes are used to inform clients of their own areas of physical weaknesses as well as areas in which they excel. Clients’ successes are documented in a manner that is easily understood by clients and can be included in medical charts when appropriate
According to the Centers for Disease Control, physical activity is one of the most important things an individual can do for their health.14 The benefits of physical activity to protect against cardiovascular disease as well as other diseases including cancer and depressive disorders are well documented.8,15,16 Additionally, physical activity is correlated to improved mental health and mood6,17,18,19 improving depression, anxiety, and in some cases schizophrenia.15,20 Most importantly, physical activity has efficacy as a treatment of depression.21
Physical activity also addresses the social-emotional challenges faced by children and adolescents. Studies have found that adolescents participating in sports had higher self-esteem,22,23 more positive physical self-impressions24 and better body image.25 Additionally, there is evidence for lower rates of loneliness for those who engage in team sports.23,26 Studies have even shown that children who are prone to shyness can have benefits from participation in physical activity and/or sports.27,28
Physical education and activity clearly help maintain and improve physical health but are overlooked interventions for mental health.15,20 When you feel good about yourself physically it translates to a stronger mental state of mind. Physical fitness is not limited to an outward appearance but is determined by the measurable components of fitness. Children and youth can build on their body image and self-esteem through physical fitness rather than the social pressures of outward appearance.
The rates of obesity and mental health disorders in children and youth are alarming and physical activity is identified as a viable solution to these pandemic problems. Mentally Fit addresses these concerns using evidence-based strategies for increasing and measuring physical activity and builds skills in fitness and emotional coping. The benefits of engaging in the Mentally Fit program are numerous ranging from improved fitness and increased positive coping strategies to reduced aggression and depressed mood. We hope that you take advantage of what Mentally Fit has to offer for the children and youth you serve.