Australian Association of Psychologists Inc
October is Mental Health Month in NSW and Wayahead, the Mental Health Association of NSW, has partnered with the NSW Department of Education to create downloadable resources for schools.
Wayahead’s schools pack will be available to over 3000 schools in NSW. This collaboration brings Mental Health Month into school communities, and encourages educators and students to learn more about mental health and the important roles they can play.
The school pack includes classroom guides for every year from Early Stage 1 to Stage 6 with a support activity card for HSC candidates and their families. Teachers can download detailed lesson plans and printable support resources which are classroom ready and can be used straight away.
Wayahead CEO Sharon Grocott said the school resources were designed to open up conversations about mental health.
“Our aim is to generate greater awareness and understanding of mental health,” she said.
“We know early intervention is so important given that the onset of a mental illness is usually in the teenage years. It is essential that we equip children with wellbeing strategies and build resilience.”
Wayahead resources will support teachers to run activities in the classroom during Mental Health Month. The activities are mapped to the NSW PDHPE curriculum and General Capabilities, with clear learning intentions and take away messages. An underpinning feature of the lessons is the emphasis on providing students with opportunities to talk about their thoughts and feelings and equipping them with strategies to talk to others about mental health. The lessons promote help-seeking behaviour, include stigma busting activities and teach the key skills in being mental health allies.
The school pack can be downloaded here.
During Mental Health Month, Wayahead is reminding everyone that “we all have a role to play” and to visit their website: mentalhealthmonth.org.au to find out what’s on offer to support their mental health.
About Wayahead
Wayahead, the NSW Mental Health Association of NSW, works to educate people about mental health and wellbeing and link them to services and resources. It works towards a society free from prejudice and discrimination against people living with mental illness.
Wayahead recently celebrated 90 years of providing mental health services in NSW.
