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Let's Talk about Anxiety is an animation and accompanying teacher toolkit from Schools in Mind.
Aimed at students aged 11 to 13, the resource will help young people to normalise, understand and manage anxious feelings.
As well as the animation, which was co-created with young people, the resources include:
- materials for delivering a lesson, including a PowerPoint, lesson plan and worksheets
- materials for delivering an assembly, including a PowerPoint and assembly plan
- guidance materials for teachers, PSHE co-ordinators and parents/carers.
To download the resources click here
Loneliness can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, but there are lots of simple actions you can take to help lift yourself or others out of loneliness.
Following the success of last year’s national campaign, which saw some very positive steps towards people taking action to help feelings of loneliness, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will soon be launching their new loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign.
The campaign primarily aims to reach 16-34 year olds by encouraging them to ‘Lift Someone Out of Loneliness’, knowing that this will likely help their own feelings of loneliness. This is based on recent research that shows that people in this demographic are at higher risk of feeling lonely compared to other age groups, but less likely to seek advice and support.
The Every Mind Matters loneliness webpage has advice for ways to help yourself or others who may be feeling lonely and suggested support routes.
The multi-channel, campaign will launch on 30th January and run until 13th March 2023.
The new and updated campaign toolkit for 2023, with updated key messaging, assets and draft social media copy is now available to download on the Campaign Resource Centre for you to use from 30th January.
They have also developed ‘Lift someone out of loneliness’ campaign posters which can also be downloaded on the Campaign Resource Centre.
If you require further information at this stage, please contact campaigns@dcms.gov.uk.
If you’re feeling lonely search ‘Every Mind Matters; for support and advice or go to https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/.
Calling all teachers! Brook and Lil-Lets invite you and your students to their Big Period Lesson Live at 10am on Wednesday 1 March 2023. This broadcast is free to access and aimed at everyone in year 6 and 7.
Led by expert Brook educators, this lesson will support your students to:
- Define what puberty is and understand body changes
- Understand the correct names for parts of the internal reproductive organs
-  Understand key facts about periods and menstrual cycle – including the emotional and physical changes that people can experience
- Understand that periods, experiences and bodies are unique for each person
- Understand the range of products available and how to choose the right one for them
- Identify ways to help someone manage their own menstrual cycle or support others
- Know where to ask for help with questions about their bodies
It would be useful if the young people viewing the broadcast have access to a smart phone or personal device. They will be asking some questions on mentimeter.com and we would like as many people to take part as possible.
Register now!
The Anna Freud Centre have recently released  a brand-new podcast series – it’s called Talking racism and mental health in schools.
Racism has a detrimental impact on the lives of Black and racially minoritised young people, and when experienced it affects both their mental health and potential to thrive.
The podcast series features experts in mental health, education and anti-racism exploring topics like representation, culture and community, and provides advice and practical steps to support all education staff to create a whole school community which is anti-racist.
Guests on the podcast include former teacher, campaigner, author and speaker the Honourable Stuart Lawrence, and Eve Doran, researcher at Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health (BLAM). The podcast episodes also feature the voices and experiences of teachers.
The Wellbeing Toolkit from the City of Wolverhampton Council has just achieved the PSHE Association Quality Mark for PSHE education resources. This free-to-download Toolkit supports pupils to understand the importance of taking care of their mental health and offers them key knowledge alongside practical skills and strategies.
The Toolkit includes six upper key stage 2 lesson plans with PowerPoint slides as well as teacher guidance and accompanying resources.
The content in each lesson aims to develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills in a developmental and practical way. Activities provide opportunities for pupils to apply their learning and to identify different strategies they can use, including problem solving skills and handling emotions to help develop their resilience.
The ‘Better Health: Every Mind Matters’ suite of free PSHE education lesson plans and resources supports primary and secondary school teachers to promote the health and wellbeing of their pupils.
The latest lesson plans, which have received the PSHE Association Quality Mark, help pupils discuss the emotional impact of bullying, while exploring how to respond safely.
Research shows that one in four children who experienced online bullying did not report it to anyone.
These new Better Health lesson plans — one for Year 6 pupils and another for KS3-4 — use scenario-based activities to explore with pupils how they can support each other and seek help.
The materials are launched to coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2021 and will help you meet the statutory RSHE requirements to teach about different types of bullying (including cyberbullying).
Download bullying and cyberbullying resources
Lifebuoy’s ‘Soaper Heroes UK’ primary PSHE education lesson plans have been awarded the PSHE Association Quality Mark.
The lessons will help KS1&2 pupils to explore how handwashing protects themselves and others. The accompanying teacher guidance contains relevant statistics on personal health and hygiene and advice on how to link the resources to wider school policies on safeguarding and attendance.
There are two lessons in total — one for KS1 and another for KS2 — both teaching pupils how to wash and sanitise their hands effectively, and encouraging them to reflect on hand hygiene as personal and social responsibility.
Pupils learn:
- Why hand hygiene is important to prevent the spread of germs
- How to ensure handwashing and sanitising is effective
- How hand hygiene links to responsibilities to help keep ourselves and others healthy
To download the lessons, follow the link below and select ‘Teacher Register’ to register your details and download the ‘PSHE Resources 5-11yrs’ file.
The PSHE Association are launching drug and alcohol schemes of work for pupils with SEND, developed for Public Health England. This resource pack includes three lesson plans and resources for pupils aged 7-11 and three for pupils aged 13-15, as well as a comprehensive teacher guidance document.
Suitable for pupils with SEND in both special and mainstream settings, these materials explore the facts, laws, risks and consequences associated with drug and alcohol use, as well as the dangers of household products and prescribed medications. Your pupils will be equipped to manage influences and pressure, and given the knowledge, understanding, skills and strategies to stay healthy and safe.
The lessons address explicit drug and alcohol education included in the PSHE Association Planning Framework for Pupils with SEND and the DfE statutory guidance for Relationships Education/ Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE).
Materials are free for everyone to download in PDF format, with additional PowerPoint versions available exclusively to members of the PSHE Association, complete with:
- Teacher-only slides with clear guidance notes to support you through lesson delivery
- Pupil-facing slides to support engaging lessons
