This lesson helps students to become mental health and wellbeing advocates in their communities. By encouraging them to envision a better world and find ways to make a positive impact, you’ll help to develop their sense of agency and responsibility for their own and others’ mental health.

Year level

7-8

Duration

30 minutes

Type

In class activity

SEL Competencies

Self-awareness

Self-management

Social awareness

Relationship skills

Responsible decision-making

Learning intention

Students will understand why mental health and wellbeing advocacy is important, and recognise how they can make a positive impact in this area.

Key outcomes

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

  • explain their vision for a world with improved mental health and wellbeing 

  • identify specific actions they can take to promote mental health and wellbeing 

  • collaborate with peers to develop ideas for mental health advocacy.

Materials needed

  • Textas, pens, pencils 

  • Students’ devices or workbook 

  • Whiteboard 

  • Whiteboard markers

  • Sticky notes

Mapped to

Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Investigate and select strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (ACPPS072)

  • Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others' health and wellbeing (ACPPS074)

Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities

  • Personal and Social Capability:

    • Self-awareness 

    • Social awareness

    • Social management

  • Ethical Understanding:

    • Exploring values, rights and responsibilities

  • Critical and Creative Thinking:

    • Generating ideas, possibilities and actions

    • Reflecting on thinking and processes

NSW PDHPE Syllabus

  • Examines and demonstrates the role valuing diversity plays in enhancing personal connections and wellbeing (PD4-2)

  • Demonstrates self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD4-9)

Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Investigate and select strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (VCHPEP127)

  • Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others' health and wellbeing (VCHPEP130)

Show details

Activity 1

Individual reflection

10 minutes

  1. Ask students to think about their vision for a world with improved mental health and wellbeing. 

  2. Students silently reflect on and complete these sentences: 

    • I would like to live in a world that is …

    • I can make this happen by …

  3. Students write their answers on sticky notes.

Activity 2

Group discussion

10 minutes

  1. Divide the class into small groups (4–5 students each).

  2. Groups share their individual responses and discuss similarities and differences between them.

Activity 3

We can make this happen

10 minutes

  1. Each group presents their main ideas to the class.

  2. Teacher writes the key points on the board under two headings: 

    • A World That Is ...

    • We Can Make This Happen By ...

  3. As a class, identify 3–5 achievable actions from the ‘We Can Make This Happen By ...’ list.

  4. Discuss how these actions can be implemented in school or the local community.

Print

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        We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

        We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

        ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

              Aboriginal flagTorres Strait islander flagRainbow flagAustralian flag

              We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

              We acknowledge people with lived experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who have been carers, families, or supporters.

              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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