Lesson Plan
You Matter: Reach Out
Students will be able to identify at least three warning signs of suicide and recall at least two trusted adults or resources they can reach out to for help, either for themselves or a friend.
Suicide is a serious public health issue, and awareness and prevention are crucial. This lesson empowers students to recognize signs of distress in themselves and others, fosters a supportive environment, and equips them with vital knowledge on how and where to seek help, potentially saving lives.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
15 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, slide presentation, and guided reflection.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the You Matter: Reach Out Lesson Plan, You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck, and You Matter: Reach Out Script to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
- Print enough copies of the Check-In Warm-Up, One-Thing Cool-Down, and Support Resources Handout for each student.
- Ensure projector and computer are set up for the You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Check-In
3 minutes
- Distribute the Check-In Warm-Up to students.
- Ask students to reflect silently on the prompts.
- Explain that this is a personal reflection and they will not be required to share their answers aloud.
- Briefly collect or have students keep the warm-up, emphasizing that the focus is on self-awareness, or just move on from it.
Step 2
Introduction & Setting the Tone
1 minute
- Begin by presenting the You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck and using the You Matter: Reach Out Script to introduce the topic.
- Emphasize the importance of creating a safe and supportive space for discussion.
- Reassure students that it's okay to feel uncomfortable and that the goal is to provide information and support.
Step 3
Understanding Mental Health
2 minutes
- Guide students through the slide discussing general mental health.
- Use the You Matter: Reach Out Script to facilitate a brief, appropriate discussion.
- Encourage questions and provide clear, empathetic answers.
Step 4
Healthy Ways to Cope
2 minutes
- Transition to the slide about healthy coping mechanisms.
- Facilitate a brief discussion, asking students what strategies they use or could try.
- Emphasize that having coping tools is a sign of strength.
Step 5
Recognizing Warning Signs
3 minutes
- Guide students through the slide discussing warning signs of suicide.
- Use the You Matter: Reach Out Script to facilitate a brief, appropriate discussion.
- Encourage questions and provide clear, empathetic answers, reinforcing that these are signs, not guarantees, and the most important thing is to reach out to a trusted adult.
Step 6
How to Help & Where to Find Support
2 minutes
- Transition to slides detailing how students can help a friend and, most importantly, where to find help for themselves or others.
- Distribute the Support Resources Handout and review the resources listed.
- Reiterate the importance of reaching out to a trusted adult (parent, teacher, counselor) or using the provided resources.
Step 7
Cool-Down: One Thing
2 minutes
- Distribute the One-Thing Cool-Down.
- Ask students to write down one important thing they learned or will remember from the presentation.
- Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket, reinforcing the main takeaways and offering further support if needed.
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Slide Deck
You Matter: Reach Out
Understanding mental health and knowing how to get help.
It's okay not to be okay, and it's brave to ask for help.
You are not alone.
Let's create a safe space to talk.
- Respect each other.
- Listen actively.
- It's okay to feel uncomfortable.
- You don't have to share anything personal you don't want to.
Welcome students and introduce the topic of mental health and suicide prevention. Emphasize that this is a safe space to learn and ask questions. Reassure them that talking about it is a sign of strength, not weakness. Explain that the goal is to provide information and support, and they will not be asked to share personal stories publicly. Encourage active listening and respectful participation.
What is Mental Health?
It's like your physical health, but for your mind!
- How you think
- How you feel
- How you act
- How you handle stress
- How you relate to others
Everyone has mental health. It changes throughout our lives.
Begin by asking students what comes to mind when they hear 'mental health.' Guide them towards understanding that just like physical health, mental health is about our thoughts, feelings, and how we cope with life. Explain that everyone has mental health, and it can change over time. It's about feeling good, managing stress, and having healthy relationships.
Healthy Ways to Cope
When feelings get tough, there are healthy ways to cope!
- Talk to a trusted adult or friend.
- Listen to music that makes you feel good.
- Exercise or get active (walk, run, play a sport).
- Draw, write, or create art.
- Spend time in nature.
- Practice deep breathing or mindfulness.
- Do something you enjoy (hobby, game).
- Help someone else.
Acknowledge that everyone experiences tough emotions. Introduce various healthy coping strategies. Emphasize that different strategies work for different people and that it's about finding what helps you feel better in a healthy way. Encourage students to think about what they already do or what they might like to try. Briefly discuss the importance of talking to someone when feelings are too overwhelming.
Recognizing Warning Signs
Sometimes, feelings can become too big to handle alone.
Look for changes in how a friend acts, feels, or talks:
- Talking about wanting to die or wishing they weren't here.
- Feeling hopeless about the future.
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities.
- Changes in mood: extreme sadness, anger, anxiety.
- Changes in sleep (too much or too little).
- Loss of interest in things they once loved.
- Giving away prized possessions.
- Saying goodbyes to friends or family.
Introduce the idea that sometimes people struggle with their mental health, and it can become very difficult. Explain that we'll discuss some signs that someone might be struggling with very strong, sad, or hopeless feelings. Stress that these are changes to look out for, not definitive labels, and that observing one or two signs doesn't mean someone is suicidal, but it's a reason to check in.
What to Do: A-C-T!
If you notice these changes in a friend, or in yourself, remember to A-C-T:
- Acknowledge: Take it seriously. Don't ignore it.
- Care: Let them know you care about them and are worried.
- Tell: Immediately tell a trusted adult.
You are not alone, and you don't have to carry this burden by yourself.
It is NEVER okay to keep a secret when someone's safety is at risk.
Explain the importance of taking these signs seriously. Introduce the "A-C-T" framework: Acknowledge, Care, Tell. Emphasize that students are not responsible for solving someone's problems, but for letting a trusted adult know. Role-play or briefly discuss what 'Acknowledge,' 'Care,' and 'Tell' might look like in a simple, age-appropriate way. Stress never keeping it a secret.
Who to Talk To: Trusted Adults
For yourself or a friend, reach out to someone you trust:
- Parent or Guardian
- Teacher
- School Counselor
- School Nurse
- Coach
- Other trusted family member
Immediate Help:
- Call or Text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Your School Counselor/Mental Health Team
- (See your Support Resources Handout for more!)
Provide clear examples of trusted adults. Reassure students that these adults are there to help and know how to support someone. Distribute the Support Resources Handout and review the local and national resources. Explain what each resource is for (e.g., calling, texting, talking). Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of incredible strength.
You Matter. You Are Not Alone.
Remember:
- Your feelings are valid.
- It's okay to ask for help.
- You are strong and brave.
- There is always hope, and help is available.
Be kind to yourself and to others.
If you're ever worried about yourself or a friend, please reach out.
Conclude by reiterating the main message: You Matter. Everyone matters, and there is always help available. Encourage students to be kind to themselves and others, to speak up if they are worried, and to remember that their feelings are valid. Facilitate the One-Thing Cool-Down.
Warm Up
Check-In: How Are You Feeling Today?
This is a private reflection for you. You do not need to share your answers aloud.
- On a scale of 1-5, how are you feeling today? (1 = not so good, 5 = great!)
- Write down one word that describes how you are feeling right now.
- Is there anything on your mind you need to let go of before we start this lesson?
Cool Down
One Thing I Will Remember
Think about what we discussed today.
What is one important thing you learned or will remember from this presentation?
### If you are still worried about yourself or a friend, please tell a trusted adult or use the resources on the Support Resources Handout.
Worksheet
Support Resources Handout
You are not alone, and help is always available.
If you or a friend needs help, please reach out to one of the trusted adults or resources below. It's brave to ask for help!
Trusted Adults to Talk To:
- Parent or Guardian
- Teacher
- School Counselor
- School Nurse
- Coach
- Other trusted family member
- Any adult you trust and feel comfortable talking to
Immediate Help & Crisis Support:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988 any time for free, confidential support.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the US, any time, about any type of crisis.
- Your School Counselor/Mental Health Team: Visit the school counseling office during school hours or ask a teacher to connect you.
- Emergency Services: If there is an immediate danger, call 911.
Remember, your safety and well-being are important. Reaching out is a sign of strength.
Script
You Matter: Reach Out Script
Warm-Up: Check-In (3 minutes)
(Teacher should have distributed Check-In Warm-Up before starting.)
"Good morning/afternoon everyone. Before we begin today, I'd like you to take a few moments for a personal check-in. I've handed out a short warm-up activity. This is for your eyes only, and you will not be asked to share your answers aloud. Please reflect on the questions for a moment or two. The goal is just to connect with how you're feeling right now."
(Allow students to complete. Collect if desired or have them keep it.)
Introduction & Setting the Tone (2 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 1)
"Today we're going to talk about something really important: our mental health and how to reach out for help, for ourselves or for a friend. This can be a tough topic, and it's okay to feel a little uncomfortable. My goal is to create a safe space where you can learn and ask questions, and to make sure you know that you are not alone and that help is always available."
"We're going to respect each other, listen actively, and remember that you never have to share anything personal you don't want to. Does anyone have any initial questions about that?"
Understanding Mental Health (2 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 2)
"So, what exactly is mental health? When you hear that phrase, what comes to mind?"
(Allow for 1-2 student responses, guiding them to relate it to overall well-being.)
"Exactly! Just like we have physical health, we also have mental health. It's about how we think, how we feel, how we act, and how we handle stress and relate to others. Everyone has mental health, and it changes throughout our lives, just like our physical health can change. Sometimes we feel great, and sometimes we need a little extra support."
Healthy Ways to Cope (3 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 3)
"When those tough feelings come up, it's really important to have healthy ways to cope. What are some things you do to feel better when you're stressed or sad?"
(Allow for 2-3 student responses, then review the list on the slide.)
"These are all great ideas! Remember, everyone is different, so what works for one person might not work for another. The important thing is to have a few healthy strategies you can turn to. And if feelings ever get too big to handle on your own, that's when reaching out to someone becomes so important."
Recognizing Warning Signs (3 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 4)
"Now, sometimes, these big feelings can become really overwhelming for someone. It's important for us to be aware of what to look for if a friend, or even you, might be struggling with very strong or hopeless feelings. These are called warning signs."
"Please look at the slide. These are changes in how someone acts, feels, or talks. Remember, seeing one or two of these signs doesn't automatically mean someone is suicidal, but it does mean they might need help and it's a reason to check in and tell a trusted adult. For example, if a friend suddenly stops doing activities they loved, or starts talking about wanting to disappear, those are important signs to notice."
What to Do: A-C-T! (2 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 5)
"So, what do you do if you notice these changes in a friend, or even in yourself? We're going to remember to A-C-T."
"A stands for Acknowledge. Take it seriously. Don't ignore it, even if it feels uncomfortable. Your friend might be counting on you."
"C stands for Care. Let them know you care about them. You might say, 'I've noticed you seem a little down lately, and I'm worried about you.'"
"And T stands for Tell. Immediately tell a trusted adult. This is the most important step. You are not alone, and you don't have to carry this burden by yourself. It is NEVER okay to keep a secret when someone's safety is at risk. That's a burden too big for any of us to carry alone."
Who to Talk To: Trusted Adults (2 minutes)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 6)
"Who are these trusted adults we can talk to?"
(Point to the list on the slide).
"These are people who care about you and your friends and know how to help. It could be a parent, a teacher, a school counselor, a coach, or another trusted family member. We also have some immediate help resources. I'm going to hand out this Support Resources Handout now. Take a look at the phone numbers and text lines listed. These are available 24/7 and are completely confidential."
(Distribute Support Resources Handout and briefly review the 988 and Crisis Text Line.)
"Remember, reaching out is a sign of incredible strength. It takes courage to say, 'I need help,' or 'My friend needs help.'"
You Matter. You Are Not Alone. (1 minute)
(Display You Matter: Reach Out Slide Deck - Slide 7)
"To wrap up, I want you all to remember a few key things: Your feelings are valid. It's okay to ask for help. You are strong and brave. And most importantly, there is always hope, and help is available. You matter. You are not alone."
"Please be kind to yourselves and to others. If you're ever worried about yourself or a friend, please reach out. Now, for our cool-down, I've got one last quick question for you."
Cool-Down: One Thing (2 minutes)
(Distribute One-Thing Cool-Down)
"Please take a moment to write down one important thing you learned or will remember from today's presentation. This will serve as your exit ticket. Thank you for listening and for being here today."
(Collect cool-downs as students leave.)