Mental Health

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community’.

Schools are an ideal setting for supporting the mental health of young people. They play an important role in raising awareness, reducing stigma and supporting students with mental health issues. Besides offering services such as student support and school psychologists, school staff can participate in professional development such as the modules offered online by the Be You team to increase their knowledge surrounding mental health issues.

Students should understand that good mental health is more than not having a mental illness. Someone with ‘good’ mental health feels capable of dealing with the normal, day-to-day situations that we all experience, while someone with a mental health issue or illness finds it difficult to manage their life. Although it’s normal to experience ups and downs, if issues persist and start impacting on a young person’s quality of life, it’s important that they seek professional support. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues that impact on young people.

This mental health resource includes classroom lessons and Wellbeing Fives. Content has been designed to increase students’ knowledge of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and eating and other disorders. Available support services, help-seeking strategies and tips for helping a friend are also covered within the lesson plans. These lessons are linked to various curricula, including the Australian National Curriculum: General Capabilities. Teachers can also access recommended factsheets from Be You and articles from ReachOut Schools that are linked to the lesson focus.

If you have a student who requires urgent help for a mental health issue, follow the procedures within your school. If you aren’t sure what these are, check with your principal or relevant wellbeing staff. You can also find out about other services that are available 24/7 here: Urgent help.