Tip Off

Mind health

Did you know?

Did you know that in the last seven Paralympic Games, Canada has won six gold, one silver and one bronze medal in wheelchair basketball?

Wheelchair Basketball Canada is an organization that has been responsible for developing wheelchair basketball in all provinces across Canada. There are currently over 2,500 members of Wheelchair Basketball Canada across the country!

Are you ready to learn about mind health? Let’s begin!

Mind and body

Our mind and body are connected. If we feel down or upset, it affects us in different ways.

When we are upset, we can try:

moving and exercising
deep breathing

Moving the body helps to pump blood to all the important muscles and organs of the body including the brain.

Taking time to focus and breathe deeply helps to calm our minds.

A student taking deep breaths and giving themselves a hug. — Take a deep breath

Try it

Imagine that you are a tree, beginning its life as a seed pod.

Access the following audio clip entitled, “Life of an Apple Seed” to explore the process of growing through the different seasons in your own way.

You may choose to follow along by creating your own movements to the audio.

Safety reminder

Be sure to check that there is enough space around you before you begin.

Life of an Apple Seed

The life of an apple seed. The apple seed starts off as tucked in the ground. It then cracks, and small tendrils begin to grow. The seed becomes a small seedling, and then a young tree flowering. The young tree becomes a multicoloured tree with leaves falling, and a barrel of apples at the trees base. Finally, the tree has bare branches during the winter.

After exploring the movements, reflect on the following:

How did it feel to grow from a small seed to a big strong tree?
How do you feel after exploring this activity?

Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.

Gametime

How do you feel?

Check out the following images. What do you notice?

Children laughing and smiling as they stand together with arms over each other’s shoulders.

Children smiling and thinking as they read a book together in a library.

Students in a group smiling at their sports teacher.

Teacher giving a student a high-five in the classroom. Both teacher and students are smiling.

Everyone wants to feel…

good about themselves
proud of what they can do
supported and accepted

Sometimes, when we try new things or go through a new experience, we feel good and we do well. Other times, we may make mistakes or go through something difficult.

For example, when playing basketball, there will be times when a player shoots a basket and feels happy and proud.

Two panels; a player shoots a ball in the basket. The second panel shows the player raising their arms in excitement.

There may be other times where they miss a shot and feel disappointed or upset.

Two panels; a player shoots a ball and misses the basket. The second panel shows the player lowering their head and arms and is a bit sad.

Think about a time when you were feeling down or sad. How did you get through it?

Take a moment and think about what you’ve learned so far!

Encouraging phrase

One way someone might overcome a difficult moment is to think about encouraging words or phrases. These encouraging words can help us to keep going and keep growing to be all we can be.

Explore the following images and phrases.

Have you ever encountered any before? Are there any that you would like to use?

Mistakes help me grow.

I am a problem solver.

I can ask for help when I need it.

I am getting better and better every day.

I am proud of myself and my accomplishments.

I deserve kindness.

I am brave.

I am powerful.

Fun fact

Did you know that the NBA has a project called Mind Health?

NBA Mind Health reminds us to take a moment to pause and check in with ourselves.

This might mean asking yourself how you are feeling and to think about how you might support others.

Being supportive

Imagine that a friend was going through a difficult time or made a mistake.

How might you support them? What kinds of words or phrases could you use to encourage them?

For each sentence, select the missing letter, word, or phrase from the drop-down menu.

Profile

Patrick Anderson

Patrick Anderson has been playing wheelchair basketball for more than 30 years! He played for Team Canada at five different Paralympic Games, and participated in five World Championships, winning gold in 2006. He has worked hard to develop his skills, support his teammates, and take his game to the next level. He is a leader on and off the court, sharing his love for wheelchair basketball with everyone. Patrick encourages people to follow their dreams.

“I’m not sure who it is, but I try to inspire and motivate people inside and outside the game to enjoy it more to get more out of it.”
– Patrick Anderson

Sources:

Anderson, P. (2023, June 5). My Journey: Patrick Anderson. Wheelchair Basketball Canada. https://www.wheelchairbasketball.ca/news_press/my-journey-patrick-anderson/

Wheelchair Basketball Canada. (2023, June 9). Patrick Anderson. https://www.wheelchairbasketball.ca/players/patrick-anderson/

Fourth Quarter

Encouraging ourselves

Mascot guide looking in the mirror and says: I am getting better and better every day.

Explore the following poster. What kinds of encouraging words do you notice?

Mascot guide drawing themselves. They write “I am” with the following words: strong, kind, brave, talented, and hardworking.

Pause and reflect

What might be some encouraging words or phrases that you could tell yourself if you are feeling sad or upset?

Record your ideas in a method of your choice.

Great job! Think about how you might use the mind health skills you’ve learned. Catch you next time!