Section 1: BUILDING HEALTH SKILLS
How do you take responsibility
for your health?
 Make a commitment to take charge of your actions
& behaviors.
 Commit to reduce risk & promote wellness.
 Now you’re ready to make informed decisions.
 Learning & practicing health skills is an important
step in taking responsibility for your health.
I. What are health skills ?
1. Health skills are specific tools & strategies that lead
to better & more informed health choices.
- health skills are used throughout your entire life.
- developing health skills takes time & practice.
- the immediate & long term benefits make the
effort worthwhile.
2. Social Health Skills = 2 skills
essential to good social health
a. Effective Communicator – being able to express
your knowledge, beliefs, and ideas in many different
ways and forms.
b. Includes the ability to say no to behaviors that
threaten your health & well-being.
3. Communication skills= the
process of sending to and
receiving messages from others
a. Effective communication involves making yourself heard
and also being a good listener.
b. The skill of communication includes:
-clearly say what you mean.
-pay attention to how you say something.
-be a good listener.
-be aware of facial expressions and hand gestures.
4. Refusal Skills
a. Techniques that help you refuse when you are
urged to take part in unsafe or unhealthy
behaviors.
b. It is important to know when another person’s
needs and desires conflict with your own.
Basic Refusal Skill Strategy
1. Say No !! Calmly. Use expressions: “sorry I don’t
want to “ or “I’d rather not”.
2. Explain why you are refusing – state your feelings.
Explain that the suggested activity or behavior goes
against your values and beliefs.
3. Suggest alternatives to the proposed activity.
4. Back up your words using body language – make eye
contact. – make it clear you don’t intend to back
down.
5. Leave if necessary – don’t give in to continued
pressure. Just walk away!
II. Mental And Emotional
Health Skills
Another trait of a health-literate person is being a
responsible, productive citizen by respecting yourself and
others.
This can be difficult in the teen years.
2 skills that can give you an emotional boost:
1. Building Self-Esteem – feelings of confidence & worth
about yourself.
a. Examine the messages you send yourself – don’t put
yourself down & don’t send yourself negative messages.
b. Focus on the things you do well.
2. Stress Management Skills
When stress threatens to become overwhelming, try
these strategies:
a. Re-channel your energy – redirect pent-up negative
energy by working out frustrations through physical
activity.
b. Relaxing – soothing music, warm baths, taking it easy.
c. Laughing – when the going gets tough, the tough get
laughing.
III. Total Health Skills
A health-literate trait is being a self-directed learner,
gathering and using reliable health information.
Mastering this skill and seeking help with problems
benefit your total health and well being.
Total Health Skills Strategies
1. Accessing Reliable Information:
- Consider the source – pay attention to the
reputation of a given media source.
- Consider the “angle”- Ask yourself if the
publishers of media are trying to sell you
something and do they have you best interest in
mind?
Total Health Skills Strategies
2. Getting Help
-Think of people who can offer assistance (parents,
teacher, counselor, religious leader).
-Learn about resources in your community (internet,
yellow pages, school nurse).
-Learn about print and electronic resources
(health.glencoe.com).