Teaching about mental health safely and sensitively Dr Pooky Knightsmith @PookyH Teaching about mental health safely and sensitively

@PookyH @MHC_Bfd_Schools #WhatYouDoMatters

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

What could happen? Pupil gets upset Disclosure Trigger behaviours

Have a plan for supporting in case of distress Be familiar with school policy in case a child causes concern or makes a disclosure

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Hold vulnerable students in mind

Supporting Vulnerable Pupils 1 2 3 Give staff / pupils a heads up (share lesson content?) Invite input – what do peers need to know? Possibility of withdrawal OR ‘get out plan’

Inform relevant staff about upcoming lessons so pupils with known issues can be supported prior to the lesson

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X, Y or Z EDUCATE rather than INSTRUCT Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X, Y or Z Methods of self-harm include ingesting poisons including X Y or Z

Review all lesson content to ensure it does not provide a ‘how to guide’

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

Video Case Study Day in the life of Talking about things in the third person helps to keep me safe, and avoids embarrassing me Video Case Study Day in the life of

Use distancing techniques. Also review all content for similarities to pupils in your class (name, appearance, story)

Educate Protect Distance Prepare Support 5 steps

WHAT will happen if they do HOW to access support WHY to access support WHAT will happen if they do

If possible, remain behind for a few minutes after the lesson in case there is a pupil who needs some extra support

Signpost support both within relevant lessons and beyond them Signpost support both within relevant lessons and beyond them. All pupils should know how, where, when and why to seek support.

End on a light note…

Suggested Resource www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk

Suggested Resource Chateez.co.uk

Suggested Resource www.youtube.com/pookyh

@PookyH | youtube.com/pookyh Dr Pooky Knightsmith @PookyH | youtube.com/pookyh www.pookyknightsmith.com

It’s not safe to show pupils video clips which mention self-harm Three steps you can take to ensure a lesson on mental health is safe and sensitive are… Three things you should never do when teaching pupils about mental health are.. You should limit the distress caused to pupils who have first hand experience of an issue by removing them from lessons about that issue Spontaneous discussion about mental health issues should be carefully shut down as these discussions must be carefully planned for as part of a specific lesson If a pupil makes a disclosure in class you should..