Norfolk Youth Parliament’s Mental Health Week- Schools Pack
Dear form teacher,
We are the Members of Youth Parliament for Norfolk and this is the pack for our mental health awareness and fundraising week beginning on Monday 10th October which is World Mental Health Day.
One of the campaign topics this year for Youth Parliament is mental health and we have decided to have a week of mental health awareness in schools and fundraising for mental health charities.
We have pulled together some resources in this pack that we find really helpful for us as young people. We think that they will help your school raise awareness of mental health and fundraise. We have included:
· Two mental health awareness sessions, one for years 5-7 and one for years 8-11- these are best done in form times or PSHE lessons
· Two mental health quizzes from our partners at the YMCA
· Fundraising ideas to support local mental health charities
· Helpful website and video links
· Mental health contacts who are happy to give presentations during the week
We hope these are enough resources to start you off with making your students more mental-health-aware but please contact us if you would like more.
Yours sincerely,
Bethayne, Cameron, Charlotte, Fleur, Greta, Harriet, Harvey, Jess and Tom
Members of Norfolk Youth Parliament
For more information please contact Ben Dunne or 01603 495102
Mental Health Session Example 1:
Session Times: / 20-30 MinutesSession Years: / Year 5, Year 6, Year 7
Session Goals: / - To create an understanding that everyone has mental health.
- To explore a few ways in which you could improve your mental health.
- To make a more friendly and open environment to Mental Health.
Starter Task:
Time it should take: 10 minutes
1) To get pupils started, ask them to write down on a sticky note/piece of paper what they think when they hear the term “Mental Health”. Ask them to put their pieces of paper on the board or on a designated table. Remind pupils they do not need to add names on their paper.
2) Go through some of the answers with the students.
3) Show students this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYfRzAIl7TQ – The video is a simple one explaining what mental health is and coping mechanisms. It’s a good video for children to begin to learn what Mental Health is!
Task 1:
Time it should take: 5-10 minutes
1) Ask students what helps them to feel happy and ask them who they would talk to if they felt like a particular emotion was taking over.
2) Ask if students have any questions on what mental health is.
Task 2:
Time it should take: 5-10 minutes
1) Either the True or False quiz (see on page 6) or the Myth and Fact quiz (see on page 8) Ask the students if these ten questions are true or false. You can get students to pair up in twos or threes or in bigger groups for this task.
2) If you have a ‘house-point’ or ‘merit’ system at school, encourage students by saying if they get 8 or more right, they get one of those points.
Task 3:
Time it should take: 5-10 minutes
1) Show the students this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9naBPVHlHw
2) Wrap up by saying how anyone can get a mental health condition and that they should be able to talk to anyone about any issue they have. Everyone deserves a chance to talk to someone.
3) Allow children to give a few views or opinions on what they have learned today.
**END OF SESSION**
Mental Health Session Example 2:
Session Times: / 30-40 MinutesSession Years: / Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Year 11
Session Goals: / - To explore a few ways in which you could improve your mental health.
- To be more open about Mental Health illness.
Starter Task:
This should take: 5 minutes
1) Ask students to show their hands if they have ever known someone who has suffered mental health illness.
2) Show them this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezI2W32yNg8
Task One:
This should take: 10-15 minutes
1) Ask students how they felt about the video. Ask individuals if they believe physical health is more important than mental health.
2) Show them these two videos in the order of the links;
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz03r7bMPjA
3) Ask students if they have changed their minds.
Task Two:
This should take: 10 minutes
1) Ask students about stigma. What are some words that could damage someone who is mentally ill? (E.g. Crazy, Mad, Mental ect.)
2) Ask students how they would fight stigma! Show them this video to get a better idea on how to fight stigma; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MG_HDNqZA0
Task Three:
This should take: 3-5 minutes
1) Discuss: What relaxes students? Makes them unwind and de-stress? What makes them feel happy? – These are all coping mechanisms that help prevent mental health disorder!
2) To help educate there are 5 easy steps and they are explained in this video here by the NHS; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6WLM0wGqq4
Task Four:
This should take: 3-5 minutes
1) Ask students what they have learned from the session. Let them know they can talk to people, tell them about charities and teachers who can help them and also promote the prevention of creating a mental health illness.
Mental Health Quiz!
These are ten questions that students can guess are either true or false! Allow students to work in groups of 2-3. House points/merits can be given as prizes for students who get 8/10 correct! Go through the answers at the end of the quiz. Good luck!
1) Mental Health is common.
True – Mental Health is incredible common; with 1 in 5 people experiencing these issues.
2) Mental Health can affect anyone.
True – You can be the smartest person on Earth and still suffer from mental health problems! It can happen to anyone.
3) One in One-Hundred people suffer from a mental health problem.
False – As said earlier, 1 in 5 suffer a mental health issue in their life-times.
4) People with a Mental Health problem CANNOT work.
False – Many people, doctors, teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers can suffer from mental health disorders and still work.
5) People with severe mental health problems are often dangerous and violent.
False – People with mental health problems are at far higher risk of harming themselves than other people. Only a very small number of people with some mental illnesses are a danger to the public.
6) Texting, phoning regularly and inviting people out socially can really help someone who is suffering from depression and other mental health problems.
True – Keeping in contact with your friend shows you care. Even if they say no or do not reply, it can still really help someone! Don’t give up!
7) People with mental health problems can overcome their difficulties.
True – Most of the time people can overcome their mental health problem. Though sometimes it’s still there a person can learn to deal with issues with the right help!
8) Only girls suffer from eating disorders.
False – Anybody can suffer from eating disorders. Often it is due to social pressure e.g. telling someone to look a certain way.
9) Wanting to talk to someone about how I feel means I have a mental health illness.
False – Talking to someone about how you feel can actually help you not have a mental health illness. Don’t ever think it means you have one!
10) Anxiety means you are weak.
False – Anxiety is something we all feel. Some people feel this more than others but it doesn’t mean you are weak or have a problem.
Myth or Fact Quiz!
1. Everyone has mental health
Fact:We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. Everyone has mental health and this can be thought of as:
>How we feel about ourselves and the people around us
>Having the strength and support to overcome the difficulties and challenges we can all face at some time in our lives.
2. Having enough quality sleep is vital to your emotional and physical well being
Fact: Having a long healthy uninterrupted sleep is a basic human need, like eating and breathing. Having enough quality sleep is vital to your emotional and physical well-being.
3. Young people need more sleep than adults
Fact: Young people need more sleep than adults because their minds and bodies are developing.On average, people spend about a third of their life asleep, this is about 25 years.
4. Mental health problems are rare
Myth: Mental health problems affect one in four people in any one year. So, even if you don’t have a mental health problem, it’s likely your best friend, a family member or work colleague will be affected.
5. People who self-harm are attention seekers
Myth:Some people think thatself-harmis ‘just’ ‘’attention seeking’’ but this is a myth. Most people whoself-harmare very secretive about it and don’t want anyone to know about it. It is more serious than wanting attention and shouldn’t be dismissed.
6. Some street drugs can cause symptoms similar to mental health issues
Fact: Some evidence suggests that cannabis users, especially if they use it heavily when they are young and continue over a long period of time, are more likely to suffer depression or anxiety disorders. It may also be an additional risk factor for someone who is already vulnerable to developing schizophrenia
7. People with mental health problems are dangerous to other people
Myth: The majority of violent crimes and homicides are committed by people who do not have mental health problems. People with mental health problems are more dangerous to themselves than they are to others: 90% of people who die through suicide in the UK are experiencing mental distress and suicide is the 2nd most common cause of death for young people under 24.
8. People can recover completely from a mental illness
Fact: Many people can and do recover completely from mental health problems. Alongside professional help, the support of friends, family and getting back to work are all important in helping people recover.
9. Children are too young to get depressed, it must be something else
Myth: Depression affects one in every 50 children under 12 years old, and one in every 20 teenagers. That’s over 800,000 children in the UK alone
10. Most young people say they can talk to their friends about their mental health problems
Myth: Nearly three in four young people fear the reactions of friends when they talk about their mental health problems.
11. There’s not much you can do to help a friend experiencing a mental health problem
Myth:If someone you know is experiencing a mental health problem, just staying in touch can really help. For many people, it is the small things that friends do that can make a difference like visiting or phoning. Don't label people with words like "crazy," "wacko," or "loony"
Fundraising
We are raising funds to support mental health charities in Norfolk and we need your help to make this happen.
Norfolk Community Foundation have offered to play a role with their funding match challenge, where they will match every £2 we fundraise with £1. This funding will help us to make a much bigger impact. Some schools have already agreed to get involved and help us to raise funds, so please encourage your students to fundraise in your school and help us make a difference.
We have put together this list of fundraising ideas to help get you started. If you have any questions about fundraising please contact Ben Dunne on 01603 495102 or
· Non-school uniform day
· Cake sale
· Sponge the teacher
· Sponsored events e.g. fun run
· Quiz night
· School disco
· School raffles
· Pre-Halloween carved pumpkin competition- pupils bring in their carved pumpkin, pay £1 or £2 to enter and teachers judge. The best one gets a prize
Useful website and video links:
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/mental-health-quiz -
This another good quiz (recommended for years 8-11)
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/children-and-young-people -
This is a good website for general information
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ -
Another good website for general information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y97VF5UJcc –
A video produced by Mind about people’s experiences of mental health illnesses (suitable for years 9-11)
Mental health experts
We find it really helpful to speak to experts about mental health. These organisations are available to speak to your students during the week commencing Monday 10 October. Please get in touch directly to arrange a visit.
Headucateis a volunteer student societywhich beganat the University of East Anglia in Norwich. Theyhave now branched out to Birmingham University.Together they aim to raise awareness of mental health by running interactive workshops in local schools. http://www.headucate.org.uk
Norfolk Young carers Forum exists to raise awareness amongst professionals and young people about the various issues faced by young carers. They design and deliver training and workshops to help improve understanding.
There could be as many as 10,000 young people in Norfolk who provide care and support to members of their families because of physical health issues, mental health issues or substance misuse. Contact Andy McGowan on: 07976 447 764 or
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