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

2. @PookyH
@MHC_Bfd_Schools
#WhatYouDoMatters

4. Educate
Protect
Distance
Prepare
Support
5 steps

5. What could happen?
Pupil gets upset
Disclosure
Trigger behaviours

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

7. Educate
Protect
Distance
Prepare
Support
5 steps

8. Hold vulnerable students in mind

9. Supporting Vulnerable Pupils1 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’

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

11. Educate
Protect
Distance
Prepare
Support
5 steps

12. 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

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

14. Educate
Protect
Distance
Prepare
Support
5 steps

15. 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

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

17. Educate
Protect
Distance
Prepare
Support
5 steps

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

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

20. 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.

21. End on a light note…

22. Suggested Resource

23. Suggested Resource
Chateez.co.uk

24. Suggested Resource

25. @PookyH | youtube.com/pookyh
Dr Pooky Knightsmith
@PookyH | youtube.com/pookyh

26. 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..