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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.

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)
Show details

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.

Activity 01

Class activity: Agree-Disagree statements 15 min

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’.

Year Level

Duration

Type

SEL Competencies

Learning Intention

Key Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Activity 01

Class activity: Agree-Disagree statements 15 min

Agree–Disagree: Depression statements

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