Managing Stress Effectively

Year 9 Health — You may use general or fictional examples. You do not need to share personal experiences.

Name:

Date:

🗺️ Part 1: My Stress Map

Stress affects us in four key areas. In each box below, write or draw examples that could apply to a Year 9 student. You may use general examples (e.g. "assessment deadlines", "friendship conflict").

⚡ Triggers — What causes stress? (e.g. school, social media, sleep, family, friendships)

💪 Physical Responses — What does the body do? (e.g. racing heart, tight chest, headache)

💭 Thoughts & Emotions — What goes through the mind? (e.g. "I can't cope", feeling anxious or overwhelmed)

🏃 Behaviours — How might someone act? (e.g. avoiding tasks, snapping at others, withdrawing)

✏️ Part 2: Understanding Stress

1. Choose two areas from your stress map above. Explain how stress can affect a person in each of those areas.

Area 1: _________________________

Area 2: _________________________

2. What is the difference between short-term stress and ongoing stress? Give one example of each.

3. Can stress ever be useful? Tick your answer, then explain.

Yes — stress can sometimes be helpful

No — stress is always harmful

It depends on the situation

Explain your thinking:

🌱 Part 3: My Personal Coping Plan

Use what you have learnt to create a simple plan. You may write about a general or imagined situation.

4. One coping strategy I could try is:

(e.g. paced breathing, grounding, movement, talking to someone, planning ahead)

5. One obstacle that might make it difficult to use this strategy is:

6. A trusted person or support pathway I (or someone) could contact is:

(e.g. a family member, school wellbeing staff, a counsellor, Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800)

7. Complete this reflection: "I should seek extra help when…"

💡 Remember: Coping strategies are helpful, but if stress is ongoing, feels unsafe, or is affecting your daily life, please speak with a trusted adult or school wellbeing staff.