The connection between mental health and executive functions

Question 1

What are executive functions?

Answer 1

• Skills required to execute tasks successfully
• self-regulation skills that depend on working memory, mental flexibility, and self-control

Question 2

What abilities do executive functions involve?

Answer 2

1. inhibit actions and regulate emotions
2. resist distractions and control attention
3. adapt flexibly to a changing situation

Question 3

What is executive dysfunction?

Answer 3

• disrupts the ability to manage thoughts, emotions and actions

Question 4

What are the 11 executive function skills?

Answer 4

1. Response inhibition
2. working memory
3. Emotional control
4. Sustained attention
5. Task initiation
6. Planning/prioritization
7. Organization
8. Time management
9. Goal-directed persistence
10. Flexibility
11. Metacognition

Question 5

How to help young people develop executive skills?

Answer 5

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with what executive skills are and how they impact learning.

Step 2: Learn to apply the executive skill terminology to student learning and behavior.

Step 3: Introduce executive skills (concepts, vocabulary, definitions)

Step 4: Find ways to illuminate where in a child’s life at home and at school executive skills present themselves and give students the opportunity to make these connections on their own

Step 5: Incorporate executive skills into lessons, classwork, and homework assignments. Be explicit with students about how the skill contributes to mastery of content and how they can identify strategies to overcome obstacles that may get in the way of using those skills effectively.

Step 6: Post strategies in the classroom to use as a reference when obstacles are uncovered.

Step 7: Periodically take a problem associated with an executive skill challenge and do a class brainstorm for how to solve the problem.

Step 8: From time to time, have students reflect on what they’ve learned about executive skills and how their skills have improved.

Step 9: At the end of school year, help students think about how the next school or grade that they go to may not offer the same supports you have provided. Help them identify how they can carry over what they have learned about skills and strategies to a new setting.

Step 10: Take some time to reflect on what you’ve learned about teaching students about executive skills.