1. I know what mental health is
Year 5 – Strong emotions
I know what mental health is
This lesson fits into the Strong Emotions strand. It focuses on recognising and understanding what is meant by mental health, including some of the language used to describe mental health. Children explore the fact that anyone can be affected by poor mental health at various stages across their life and they will also be given opportunities to discuss strategies for coping with different emotional states and developing protective strategies. They will explore where people can access support and help in relation to mental health issues.
© Leeds South and East CCG

2. Learning outcomes Knowledge Skills
I can define what is meant by ‘mental health’ and can identify what mental health might look like
I recognise that anyone can be affected by poor mental health
I know what people can do to support their mental health, including where people can get help
I can give an example of a strong uncomfortable emotion and how that emotion has affected my behaviour
I can use a strategy to help me feel more positive/in control of my behaviour 2

3. How we will work together
Can you remember the ground rules we have already talked about, let’s take a minute to think about them
Teacher notes
Read these through with the children. Hopefully the ground rules will be displayed in the classroom already. 3

4. What do we already know? What do you have to do to be healthy?
Group discussion
Why is mental health just as important as physical health?
What do you have to do to be healthy? (Eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, eat a balance diet, etc.). Share and discuss ideas. Did any groups consider mental health or was the focus just on physical health alone? Add ideas about how to keep mentally healthy if this aspect was missing from groups’ suggestions/ if you feel it needs discussing further. Why is mental health just as important as physical health? Record ideas as relevant on post-its. Share ideas about what mental health is (see slide 5). 4

5. What do we already know? Group discussion
We all have mental health and it’s just as important as our physical health
Group discussion
Cope with life
Play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends
Some people call mental health ‘emotional health’ or ‘well-being’ and it’s just as important as good physical health.
Share ideas about what mental health is.
If you’re in good mental health, you can:
Make the most of your potential 5

6. Mindfulness Exercise 1: Mindful Hearing Listen to the audio clip 6
Right click on ‘Mindful Hearing clip’ hyperlink and click ‘open hyperlink’ to access video. Mindfulness exercise – Exercise 1; ‘Mindful Hearing’.
Listen to the audio clip 6

7. Exploring mental health
Why do you think the press can be so negative about mental health at times?
Emotional wellbeing
Group discussion
Remind children that mental health might also be referred to as emotional wellbeing (how we are feeling/ how resilient we are in different circumstances). Share newspaper headlines/articles. What do they tell us about mental health? Why do you think the press can be so negative about mental health at times? Mention ‘stigma’ and the fact that this is linked to a lack of understanding about mental health. Acknowledge that mental health problems can be severe for some people – depression, panic attacks, etc. However, reinforce that fact that everyone has mental health (link back to what was discussed on slide 5). Also acknowledge that everyone experiences ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ in terms of mental health and that this is normal for everyone. Everyone will experience poor mental health at some point in time and this is normal. 7

8. Exploring mental health
What might affect someone’s mental health?
Talk partners
How could you look after your own mental health?
What might affect someone’s mental health? Share ideas and record on post-its for future reference. Reinforce that you can be preventative around your own mental health, we have to look after our mental health just as we would our physical health. How could you look after your own mental health? Again, record ideas on post-its for future reference. Acknowledge that everyone needs support with it sometimes and that we will be looking at coping mechanisms and support strategies as part of this lesson. 8

9. All about mental health
What ‘protective’ strategies can you use to look after your mental health?
Links to emotions (for example, if someone is feeling stressed, they might want to choose to take a long walk in the fresh air rather than staying cooped up in doors where they are likely to feel worse)
Ideas about where people can get support if they need it (day-today strategies should be the focus here, e.g. ‘Talk to a friend about what’s worrying you.’ As well as suggestions for who to talk to about more serious mental health issues)
Where could people get help in relation to their mental health if they needed it?
Ideas about what people can do in terms of taking preventative measures and looking after their mental health in the same way as they would their physical health
What ‘protective’ strategies can you use to look after your mental health? Link to protective strategies you take to look after your physical health. Also link to discussion during learning episode 1. Where could people get help in relation to their mental health if they needed it? Discuss and record ideas and display for future reference. Pairs/ groups (as appropriate) to use these ideas and their own ideas to design a poster promoting positive mental health. They need to include;
Ideas about what people can do in terms of taking preventative measures and looking after their mental health in the same way as they would their physical health
Links to emotions (for example, if someone is feeling stressed, they might want to choose to take a long walk in the fresh air rather than staying cooped up in doors where they are likely to feel worse)
Ideas about where people can get support if they need it (day-today strategies should be the focus here, e.g. ‘Talk to a friend about what’s worrying you.’ as well as suggestions for who to talk to about more serious mental health issues). 9

10. All about mental health
Create a poster
The poster can be about looking after your mental health, reducing stigma or just explaining what mental health is 10

11. How has our learning progressed?
Exercise 2: Mindful Breathing
Re-cap LOs and discuss.
Mindfulness exercise -
Right click on ‘Mindful Breathing clip’ hyperlink and click ‘open hyperlink’ to access video. Mindfulness exercise – Exercise 2; ‘Mindful Breathing’.
Listen to the audio clip 11

12. Taking the learning away
Map out 3 or 4 activities/ strategies which you could take part in which would enhance your mental health and make you feel good
Consider how you could support and encourage others to develop protective mental health strategies 12

13. Additional resources and help
Talk to your teacher or an adult in school
Talk to your Mum, Dad or someone you trust at home about how you are feeling
If you have them: – Write your worry down and post it in the class worry box – Talk to a peer mediator in your school – Write your worry down on the worry wall on the school’s website
Contact:
im-a-young-person
Where can I go for help? 12