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Your Voice Matters

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Zakiya Moore

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Your Voice Matters Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify warning signs of suicide, understand the importance of seeking help, and know how to access mental health resources for themselves and others.

Suicide is a serious public health issue, and providing students with knowledge and resources can help prevent tragedies and promote overall well-being. This lesson aims to empower students with the tools to support themselves and their peers.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 Minutes

Approach

This lesson uses discussion-based learning, empathy-building, and practical strategies to foster a safe and supportive environment.

Materials

  • Slide Deck: Your Voice Matters, - Script: Guiding the Conversation, - Warm-Up: Checking In, - Discussion Guide: Supporting Each Other, - Cool-Down: Takeaway Thoughts, - Pens/pencils, and - Paper or sticky notes

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 Minutes

  • Review all generated materials thoroughly: Lesson Plan: Your Voice Matters, Slide Deck: Your Voice Matters, Script: Guiding the Conversation, Warm-Up: Checking In, Discussion Guide: Supporting Each Other, and Cool-Down: Takeaway Thoughts.
  • Familiarize yourself with school-specific mental health resources (counselors, school psychologists, crisis lines) and local community resources.
  • Prepare the classroom for sensitive discussion, ensuring a calm and respectful environment.
  • Have paper or sticky notes ready for the Warm-Up and Cool-Down activities.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Checking In

5 Minutes

  • Distribute the Warm-Up: Checking In activity. Instruct students to complete it individually.
  • Briefly discuss some anonymous responses or general themes that emerge, emphasizing the diversity of feelings and the importance of support.

Step 2

Introduction & Norms

3 Minutes

  • Using Slide Deck: Your Voice Matters (Slide 1 & 2) and Script: Guiding the Conversation, introduce the sensitive topic of mental health and suicide prevention.
  • Establish clear classroom norms for respectful discussion, confidentiality, and active listening. Emphasize that this is a safe space for learning and sharing responsibly.

Step 3

Slide Deck Presentation: Understanding Mental Health & Support

10 Minutes

  • Present the core content using the remaining slides of Slide Deck: Your Voice Matters (Slides 3-6) and the accompanying Script: Guiding the Conversation.
  • Focus on the mental health continuum, common signs of distress (without sensationalizing), the importance of reaching out, and the power of supportive relationships.
  • Clearly present school and community resources.

Step 4

Guided Discussion: Supporting Each Other

10 Minutes

  • Transition to a guided discussion using the Discussion Guide: Supporting Each Other.
  • Encourage students to share thoughts on how they can support friends, break down stigma, and effectively communicate when they or someone they know needs help.
  • Reiterate the message that it's okay not to be okay and it's essential to seek help.

Step 5

Cool-Down & Resources

2 Minutes

  • Conclude the lesson with the Cool-Down: Takeaway Thoughts activity.
  • Remind students of the confidential resources available both within the school and externally (e.g., crisis hotlines, mental health services).
  • Thank students for their participation and emphasize the importance of looking out for themselves and each other.
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Slide Deck

Your Voice Matters: Supporting Mental Health

Understanding, Empathy, Action - Together We Can Make a Difference

(Image: A diverse group of young people supporting each other, perhaps with a subtle mental health awareness ribbon.)

Welcome students. Briefly introduce the topic as important for everyone's well-being. Emphasize that this is a safe space for learning and discussion.

Today's Focus: Our Shared Well-being

  • Why mental health matters for everyone
    - Recognizing signs when someone might be struggling
    - How to support yourself & others effectively
    - Where to find professional and peer help

Go over the learning objectives. Set ground rules for a respectful and confidential discussion. Reassure students that it's okay to feel uncomfortable, but the goal is to equip them with helpful information.

Mental Health: It's a Spectrum, Not a Fixed State

  • Everyone has mental health, just like physical health. It's about our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
    - Our mental health fluctuates! We can move from thriving to struggling.
    - Stress, challenges, and life changes are normal, and they impact our mental well-being.

Explain that mental health isn't just about mental illness. Use an analogy if helpful (e.g., a cold vs. pneumonia for physical health). Normalize having ups and downs.

Reaching Out: Recognizing the Signs of Struggle

  • Significant Changes in Behavior: Withdrawal from friends/activities, extreme mood swings, sudden loss of interest in hobbies, changes in sleep or eating patterns.
    - Expressing Hopelessness or Being a Burden: Talking about feeling trapped, having no reason to live, or feeling like others would be better off without them.
    - Increased Risk-Taking or Self-Harm: Engaging in dangerous activities, self-injurious behaviors.
    - Giving Away Cherished Possessions: Making arrangements as if preparing for a long absence or farewell.
    - Verbal Cues: Direct statements like "I wish I wasn't here" or indirect hints such as "It would be better if I were gone."

Emphasize that these are changes and combinations of signs, not isolated incidents. Stress that if you notice any of these, it's always better to check in and get help rather than ignore it. DO NOT dwell on specific methods. Focus on identifying distress and the need for support.

Be a Lifeline: Ask. Listen. Connect. Get Help.

  • ASK Directly: "Are you thinking about suicide?" (Asking will not plant the idea; it shows you care.)
    - LISTEN Non-Judgmentally: Let them share their feelings without interruption or trying to "fix" things.
    - CONNECT to Help: Don't promise secrecy. Get a trusted adult involved immediately (parent, teacher, counselor). You are not alone in this.
    - STAY With Them: If possible, do not leave them alone until they are with a trusted adult or professional.

Explain why asking directly is important. Highlight the role of trusted adults (teachers, counselors, parents). Provide concrete examples of how to connect someone to help (e.g., walk them to the counselor's office, tell a teacher). Reiterate: You are not responsible for solving their problems, but for connecting them to people who can.

Help is Here: Resources for You and Your Friends

  • School Resources:
    • Your School Counselor/Psychologist [List specific names/locations if applicable]
    • Any Trusted Teacher or Staff Member
  • National Crisis & Support Lines (Available 24/7):
    • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 988
    • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
    • The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text START to 678-678
  • Remember: Reaching out is a sign of strength.

This slide is crucial. Make sure local/school resources are clearly stated. Encourage students to save these numbers. Reinforce that reaching out is a sign of strength.

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