Depression
This lesson examines what depression is, suggest ways for students to support a friend they are worried about, and offers some help-seeking strategies.
Year level
9-10
Duration
60 minutes
Type
In class activity
SEL Competencies
Self-awareness
Social awareness
Self-management
Responsible decision-making
Relationship skills
Learning intention
Students understand what depression is, how to recognise it and ways to seek help.
Key outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
identify what depression is, and recognise its signs and symptoms
understand how to support a friend to get help for depression
recognise valuable help-seeking strategies.
Materials needed
A large room, or a room with a long wall
Opinion signs: agree, disagree, strongly disagree, strongly agree, neutral
Masking tape or Blu tack to stick up signs
Student access to ReachOut.com
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Plan, rehearse and evaluate options (including CPR and first aid) for managing situations where their own or others’ health, safety and wellbeing may be at short- or long-term risk (ACPPS091)
Evaluate situations and propose appropriate emotional responses, and then reflect on possible outcomes of different responses (ACPPS094)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and social capability:
Social awareness
Social management
Self-awareness
Self-management
Creative and critical thinking:
Reflecting on thinking and processes; inquiring – identifying, exploring, and organising information and ideas
Information and communications technology (ICT) capability:
Investigating with ICT
Intercultural understanding:
Interacting and empathising with others
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Assesses their own and others’ capacity to reflect on and respond positively to challenges (PD5-1)
Researches and appraises the effectiveness of health information and support services available in the community (PD5-2)
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Evaluate situations and propose appropriate emotional responses, and then reflect on possible outcomes of different responses to health and wellbeing (VCHPEP147)
Plan, rehearse and evaluate options (including CPR and first aid) for managing situations where their own or others’ health, safety and wellbeing may be at risk (VCHPEP144)
Evaluate health information from a range of sources and apply to health decisions and situations (VCHPEP148)
Activity 1
Class activity: Agree-Disagree statements
15 minutes
To feel more confident when teaching this lesson, we recommend you access the following:
the Be You factsheet ‘Depression’
the ReachOut Schools article ‘Depression’.
Agree–Disagree: Depression statements
During this activity, students’ opinions related to depression will be explored. Remind students of the importance of listening to and valuing the opinions of others.
Hang the five opinion signs in order (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree) on a wall with space between each sign.
Read aloud to the students the following statements on depression, one by one:
Depression is more than feeling sad.
Sometimes, talking about depression isn’t enough.
Depression can affect anyone, at any time.
Getting help can be really hard.
There are many options for treating depression.
People don’t choose to have depression.
After reading each statement, ask students to move to the opinion sign that most closely aligns with their thinking. The number of statements you read out may depend on the time available and the engagement of the students.
Invite students to share with the group or a partner why they moved to a particular opinion sign.
At the end of the activity, share with students the ReachOut.com article ‘7 facts about depression’.
Activity 2
Case study article: Tara's experience
15 minutes
Students read the article ‘Tara’s experience opening up to a friend to overcome depression’.
Ask students to answer the following questions individually:
What were the signs and symptoms of Tara’s depression?
What were the risk factors for Tara’s depression?
What help-seeking strategies did Tara find useful?
Suggest other help-seeking strategies that may have been useful for Tara.
As a class, brainstorm on the board the symptoms of depression. Colour code these into thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Activity 3
Conversation practice: Helping a friend
30 minutes
Conversation practice: Helping a friend
Ask students to read the articles ‘6 ways to help a friend with depression’ and ‘Support services for depression’.
Write a comic: supporting someone you are worried about
Using images and conversation bubbles, write a conversation where one person is struggling with the signs and symptoms of depression.
Using the steps outlined in the article and support services, write down the conversation.
Summary:
Discuss with students the support services available at school and who they can go to if they are concerned about someone – e.g. school psychologist, or head of student wellbeing.
Refer students to the articles ‘Urgent help’ and ‘Treatments for depression’ for more information.
