Mental Health Discussion Guide

This guide is designed to help you lead a respectful and insightful discussion about mental health in your classroom. Use these questions and prompts to create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.

Guidelines for Discussion

• Respect: Listen actively to others. Respect different opinions and experiences.
• Confidentiality: Remind everyone that personal stories shared in the discussion should stay within the group.
• Participation: Encourage every student to contribute, but allow them to pass if they’re uncomfortable sharing.
• Empathy: Validate responses and acknowledge that mental health is a personal journey for everyone.

Discussion Questions

1. Understanding Mental Health

• Question: What does mental health mean to you?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-up: How do you think mental health influences our daily life and relationships?
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Recognizing Signs

• Question: What are some signs you might observe if someone is experiencing depression, anxiety, or dealing with substance use?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-up: Have you ever noticed changes in your own behavior or feelings that might reflect these signs? (Share if you’re comfortable)
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Supporting Ourselves and Others

• Question: What do you think are effective ways to support a friend who seems to be struggling?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-up: How can you support your own mental health on a daily basis?
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Tools and Resources

• Question: What tools or strategies have you heard about that can help improve mental health? (For example, mindfulness, exercise, hobbies, etc.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Follow-up: When do you think it’s important to reach out to an adult or a trusted person about your mental health?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Closing Thoughts

• Reflection: Ask students to share one new idea or strategy they learned today that could help them maintain or improve their mental health.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Reminder: Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of strength, and remind everyone of the important school and community resources available.

This discussion guide is intended to foster open, honest, and respectful dialogues on mental health. It can be revisited as needed during the course of the school year to reinforce support and understanding.

Interactive Activity Worksheet

This worksheet is designed to help you identify warning signs of mental health challenges and brainstorm healthy coping mechanisms. Use the space provided to reflect on the lesson and record your thoughts.

Part 1: Identifying Warning Signs

Think about the lesson you just learned. Write down some warning signs for each of the following areas:

Depression:

• Warning Sign 1:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 2:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 3:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Anxiety:

• Warning Sign 1:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 2:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 3:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Substance Use:

• Warning Sign 1:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 2:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Warning Sign 3:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Part 2: Brainstorming Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Now, think about and list some strategies or tools that could help improve mental health and support someone who may be experiencing challenges. Write at least three ideas:

Part 3: Personal Reflection

Reflect on what you learned today. Write a few sentences about a new idea or strategy that you might use to help keep your own mental health healthy. Why do you think this could be helpful?

Teacher Note: Encourage students to share insights in small groups and with the class if they feel comfortable. Remind them that their thoughts help create a supportive and understanding environment.