1. Head-ED Lesson 1: What is Mental Health? Learning Objectives:
Understand what mental health and mental health disorders are
Be able to describe and explain how mental health can be affected by common triggers
Be able to explain some scientific theories as to what happens in the brain to cause mental illness

2. The Stand up Kid
How would you describe the teacher’s attitude towards Michael? What about his body language?
How do the other students relate to Michael in the first part of the clip?
Did the dead arm analogy help you to understand depression? How does this compare to people who say they are depressed after a single bad day?
Do you think in a real school a person with mental health problems would have the courage to stand up and tell their classmates about it? Why/why not?

3. Mental health is something we all have, and it’s something that changes at different times in our lives. We all have a body and we all have a brain, so we all have physical health and mental health. Some people think of their mental health as ‘emotional health’ or ‘wellbeing’.
Rethink Mental Illness –

4. Wellbeing is: Feeling good about ourselves and the people around us
Being able to make and keep friends
Being able to learn from others and to develop emotionally
Overcoming everyday difficulties and problems

5. The wellbeing sliding scale

6. In summary …
People do not need a diagnosed mental illness to have poor mental health.

7. The brain

8. Inside your brain is a complex network of cells called neurones …

9. Learning Outcomes
You should have an understanding of what mental health and mental health disorders are
You should be able to describe and explain how mental health can be affected by common triggers
You should be able to explain some scientific theories as to what happens in the brain to cause mental illness

11. Mental Health Services Available in My School