INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS?

Intellectual wellness is the desire and openness to learn from new ideas/experiences, strengthen skills and explore challenges. It is what expands our knowledge and skills to live a challenging, successful life while allowing us to share these things with others. Intellectual wellness can be developed through academic, cultural, and community activities, as well as personal hobbies.

IMPORTANCE

Encourages learning so that we can explore new ideas and understandings to become more aware and versatile
Inspires exploration and curiosity which gives us motivation to try new things and helps us understand how we view the connection with ourselves, others, and the environment
Helps develop personal resources that work together with the other dimensions of wellness, creating a more balanced life

WHAT DOES BEING INTELLECTUALLY HEALTHY LOOK LIKE?

Having a love for learning and discovery
Observing what's around you and being aware of current events
Learning because you want to and applying what you learn into life
Reading books and newspapers
Being open-minded (to new ideas, cultures, understandings, skills, and environments)
Actively listening to others to fully understand the information being communicated
Listening and questioning
Allows you to have a mindset that focuses on growth and personal development
Allows you to explore topics relating to problem-solving, critical thinking, learning, and creativity
Viewing challenges/difficulties as an opportunity to grow
Taking on new experiences
Setting and working towards goals
Pick up new hobbies to increase your skill set, pass time, or have fun

WAYS TO IMPROVE INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS

Participate in debates
Learn a new language
Play games (board games, cards, puzzles) or a musical instrument
Taking the time to identity your feelings and understand your character
Improve your skills in time/stress management, studying, academics, note taking, public speaking, and critical thinking

HOW IS INTELLECTUAL HEALTH REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA?

SOCIAL MEDIA:

TikTok
Because of its amazing diversity, individuals can share and learn information about a variety of topics from cooking to politics
This app is known for being a great platform that allows everyone to share their opinions and points of view

CHILDREN'S TV SHOWS + MOVIES:

Almost every story has a lesson that every child can learn from. An example of this portrayal is Big Hero 6. With its diverse representation, powerful take on science, and lesson on overcoming grief and loss, Big Hero 6 is a great movie to teach children about intellectual health and its importance.

OTHERS:

I Am Sam - 2004
Radio - 2003
Heavy Load - 2008
Mission To Lars - 2012
Mother (South Korean) - 2009

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY?

Intellectual disability is a neurodevelopmental diagnosis characterised by below-average intellectual functioning (e.g. reasoning, learning, problem-solving) etc.) and a lack of skills necessary for daily living. A child with an intellectual disability can learn new skills, but will develop more slowly, or within narrower limits than other children.

Deficits in intellectual functions (e.g. reasoning, problem solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgment, academic learning, and learning from experience), confirmed by both clinical assessment and individualised, standardised intelligence testing.
Deficits in adaptive functioning that result in failure to meet developmental and sociocultural standards for personal independence and social responsibility. The adaptive deficits limit functioning in one or more activities of daily life (e.g. communication, social participation, and independent living), across multiple environments (e.g. home, school, work, and community).
Onset of intellectual and adaptive deficits during the developmental period.

RESOURCES

Geary, Ali By. "Eight Simple Steps to Increase Your Intellectual Wellness." Illinois State University News, 26 Mar. 2014, news.illinoisstate.edu/2014/03/seven-simple-steps-increase-intellectual-wellness/#:~:text=Intellectual wellness refers to active,live a stimulating, successful life.
"Intellectual Wellness." Intellectual Wellness | Student Health and Counseling Services, shcs.ucdavis.edu/wellness/intellectual.
"Movies About Intellectual Disability - Mental Health Related Films." TherapyRoute, 2021 TherapyRoute Pty Ltd, 16 June 2020, www.therapyroute.com/article/movies-about-intellectual-disability-mental-health-related-films-by-e-sinisi.
Northwestern Student Affairs. "Intellectual3 0". Youtube, 12 September 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLJQUCWK7t0&ab_channel=NorthwesternStudentAffairs
Project School Wellness. "What is Intellectual Health?". Youtube, 23 April 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7qSoCoM9i8&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=ProjectSchoolWellness