The importance of a sound mental health has always been underrated. But the COVID-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the ways poor psychological health can wreak havoc in our lives. It has also made us aware of the fact taking care of the mind of kids and youngsters is as important as paying attention to their physical health and academics. Now, a lot of websites, like edX and Coursera, provide top-notch online mental health courses from reputed Ivy League colleges which will help you understand your child better. Taking these courses will enable you to raise happier kids. Here is a low-down on them.
The Science of Well-Being, Yale University
Taught by: Professor Laurie Santos
Available On: Coursera Help
Santos is a cognitive scientist and professor of psychology as well as the director of Yale’s Comparative Cognition Laboratory. Of all the courses available online for free, this is one of the most comprehensive ones. With weekly exercises and daily activities, the course teaches gratitude, savouring, social connections, and time affluence to help one identify goals and rewire years of negative actions.
The Path to Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches us about the Good Life, Harvard University
Taught by: Michael Puett
Available On: edX
Puett teaches lessons we can imbibe from Chinese philosophies and apply them in contemporary living. The course takes an in-depth look into self-awareness and understanding the power of ritual, how philosophical precepts fit into our lives. The biggest lesson comes from ‘a reflection diary,’ a personal notebook that helps one document each thought and action, week after week.
Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress, Yale University
Taught by: Marc Brackett
Available On: Coursera Help
Brackett is the founder and director of the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Child Study Centre. The course teaches us to grade emotions, step away, observe, and realise their origins, with a special focus on the post-pandemic world.
Buddhism and Modern Psychology, Princeton University
Taught by: Robert Wright
Available On: Coursera Help
Wright is a visiting professor of religion, and the founder and editor-in-chief of Meaningoflife.tv. The course teaches how Buddhist thought intersects with modern psychology and principles which have shaped evolutionary psychology, moral psychology and neuroscience.
Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action, Yale University
Taught by: Marney White
Available On: Coursera Help
White is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Yale School of Public Health, and a clinical psychologist specialising in eating and weight disorders. The course gives an insight into behaviourism, prompting and stimulus control, and human response. It highlights how to boost positive behaviour, especially in children, like a token system, or the Premack principle in one class.
Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being, University of Pennsylvania
Taught by: Martin E.P. Seligman
Available On: Coursera Help
Seligman is credited as the father of positive psychology and its efforts to scientifically explore human potential. This course teaches us, through examples, research-based strategies and affirmative action. It helps us develop and test a new positive intervention for an audience of your choice. The idea is to identify opportunities in life to increase wellbeing by using this knowledge.