Mental Health First Aid Basics

Patricia Bailey

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Mental Health First Aid Basics

Identify signs of stress and anxiety

This lesson introduces students to basic mental health first aid concepts, focusing on identifying signs of stress or anxiety and ways to offer support. It empowers students with the knowledge to care for themselves and others, fostering a supportive and empathetic classroom environment.

Audience

Grades 6 to 9

Time

40 minutes

Approach

Identify signs of stress and anxiety

Materials

Discussion Questions, Worksheet: Identifying Stress and Anxiety, Quiz: Mental Health First Aid Basics, and Answer Key: Mental Health First Aid Basics

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what mental health means.
Ask students if they have heard of mental health first aid and what they think it involves.

Step 2

Discussion: Signs of Stress and Anxiety

10 mins

Use the provided discussion questions to guide a conversation about common signs of stress and anxiety.
Encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences.

Step 3

Activity: Identifying Stress and Anxiety

10 mins

Distribute the worksheet on identifying stress and anxiety.
Have students work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet.
Discuss the answers as a class.

Step 4

Quiz: Mental Health First Aid Basics

10 mins

Administer the quiz to assess students' understanding of the lesson.
Review the answers using the provided answer key.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Summarize the key points of the lesson.
Encourage students to think about how they can apply what they've learned to support themselves and others.

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Discussion

Discussion Questions

A set of questions to guide a discussion on identifying signs of stress and anxiety.

What are some common signs of stress or anxiety you might notice in yourself or others?

Look for physical, emotional, and behavioral signs such as headaches, irritability, or withdrawal.

Why is it important to recognize these signs early?

Discuss the benefits of early intervention and support.

How can you offer support to someone who is showing signs of stress or anxiety?

Explore different ways to offer support, such as listening, encouraging professional help, or being there for them.

Worksheet

Worksheet: Identifying Stress and Anxiety

A worksheet to help students identify signs of stress and anxiety in various scenarios.

List three physical signs of stress or anxiety.

Describe a situation where you might feel anxious and how you would handle it.

What are some healthy coping strategies for managing stress?

Quiz

Quiz: Mental Health First Aid Basics

Answer Key

Answer Key: Mental Health First Aid Basics

The answer key for the quiz on mental health first aid basics.

Which of the following is a sign of anxiety?

Sweating
Sweating is a common physical response to anxiety.

What is one way to support a friend who is stressed?

Listen to them
Listening is a supportive action that shows you care.