What’s on this site?
This site houses the resources developed for the Mental Health and High School Curriculum project:
- a downloadable PDF of the Curriculum Guide
containing six lesson plans each designed to fit into 50 minutes of classroom time - Flash Presentations to accompany Lessons 1 and 2
- Lesson 1 : Mental health and mental illness: The common basis
(Format: Flash presentation) - Lesson 2 : When the brain gets sick: The road to recovery
(Format: Flash presentation)
- Lesson 1 : Mental health and mental illness: The common basis
- Videos which accompany Lessons 3, 4 and 5
- Lesson 3 : Courageous not crazy: Experiences of mental illness
(Format: Windows Media, Size: 35.7MB) - Lesson 4 : Courageous not crazy: Living with stigma
(Format: Windows Media, Size: 15.7MB) - Lesson 5 : Courageous not crazy: Help and support
(Format: Windows Media, Size: 14.1MB)
- Lesson 3 : Courageous not crazy: Experiences of mental illness
The tools in this package, (including the Curriculum Guide, the PowerPoint presentation and the three-part video) are designed to help teachers and other members of school staff to:
- Promote students’ awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness;
- Provide a safe and supportive environment in which all students can maximize their learning;
- Remain accessible and responsive to students’ needs;
- Help students develop their abilities to cope with challenges and stress;
- Identify those students in particular need of assistance or support.
By using the activities in the curriculum guide, teachers and students will explore the language of mental health and mental illness and learn about the causes, symptoms and approaches for dealing with different mental illnesses such as mood, anxiety, eating and psychotic disorders. Through the audiovisual materials, students will hear directly from other young people about their experiences with mental illness, and the impact of stigma on their personal struggles and at the community and societal level.
Students will also learn about seeking help and providing peer support and meaningful recovery from mental illness, as well as the importance of positive mental health for all.




