The importance of emotional health

Last September, a fascinating study was published in The American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Researchers from Ohio State University College of Nursing found that implementing an emotional health component to school-based health education programmes enhanced healthy behaviours, reduced depression and improved grades.

For the study, researchers recruited 779 secondary-school students between the ages of 14 and 16. Half attended a control class that covered standard health topics such as road safety, dental care and immunisation. The others were enrolled in the COPE healthy lifestyles programme. 

This programme involves weekly 50-minute cognitive behavioural therapy sessions with an emphasis on skills-building, interspersed with nutrition information and physical activity. In the latter, 15 to 20 minutes of physical activity are incorporated into the sessions, not just to improve physical health but to build beliefs and confidence in teens that they can engage in and sustain some level of physical activity on a regular basis (it is important to note that exercise has been shown to improve emotional health in people of all ages).