As educators, we have the ability to work towards the elimination of stigma and discrimination by teaching the new generation that people with a mental illness are not to be feared, judged, avoided, or discriminated against. Mental illness and mental health are gaining more traction in our collective consciousness, and we can further that cause by bringing the discussion into our classrooms. These lesson plans, in partnership with our Creating a Compassionate Classroom booklet, were created as resources to do just that.
Having a conversation about mental health might be uncomfortable, but it can make all the difference. Check out these tools – from conversation guides to tips –that can help you help those in need.
Students will use a self-management checklist to document essential activities that are necessary for optimal health. Students will also have journal time, an opportunity to answer a daily prompt to free-write for 2 straight minutes.
Brynn had a normal, happy childhood but adolescence brought on difficult feelings and experiences that led her to seek help. This video can be played during a lesson on asking for assistance for self and others.
Joronda Montaño shares her story of surviving and thriving despite mental health challenges. She and the other voices of Not Broken reinforce the message that teens living with mental illnesses are not broken and not defined by their diagnoses.
When you’re in high school, it can seem like being popular is the most important thing in the world. But being popular in high school tends to have adverse outcomes once someone enters early adulthood. It all depends on what type of popularity someone has because it turns out there are two types. They are status and likability.
Kentucky high school student Allison Tu explains how StAMINA (Student Alliance for Mental Health Innovation and Action) reaches peers struggling with mental health issues. This segment is part of the video collection You Are Not Alone, a youth mental health series produced by KET.
This alignment results from the ALEX Health/PE COS Resource Alignment Summit.
This resource is informational material about phobias and panic disorders. The overview of the resource is, "Everyone feels scared at times. But sometimes, fear can come up in a situation that isn’t expected. This fear stops us from going about our usual routines or working towards our goals. Phobias and panic disorder are two examples of mental illnesses that can lead to these problems." The resource also provides links to other resources to help educate students about mental illnesses.
This TED-Ed learning activity guides students through the explanation of, possible causes, and treatments for depression.
Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world; in the United States, close to ten percent of adults struggle with the disease. But because it’s a mental illness, it can be a lot harder to understand than, say, high cholesterol. Helen M. Farrell examines the symptoms and treatments of depression and gives some tips for how you might help a friend who is suffering.
The activity includes a video, multiple choice and open-ended questions, additional resources to dig deeper, and a guided discussion.
This free resource from KidsHealth includes informational material to teach students about depression. Depression is more than occasionally feeling blue, sad, or down in the dumps. Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, feelings of discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that may last for weeks, months, or longer. This resource outlines the difference between depression and general sadness, the signs of, and treatment for depression.
