Module 1 Lesson Plan

Topic: Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness

Purpose: Students will understand the stigma of mental illness and the effect it has on
treatment and behaviour. Students will understand the different mental health states.
Specific Learning Outcome:
- To understand the stigma surrounding mental illness, and the impact of stigma on
help-seeking behaviour
- To explore the differences between the myths and realities of mental illness
- About some ways of overcoming stigma and promoting a realistic understanding of
mental illness
- That mental health and mental illness both include a wide range of states
- That having a mental health problem is not the same thing as having a mental illness
- That a person can have a mental illness and be mentally healthy at the same time
- Some of the languages used to discuss mental health and mental illness
Instructional Objectives:
- Stigma results in discriminatory behaviour and treatment towards people with mental
illness
- Stigma is perpetuated through mistaken beliefs about mental illness and can be seen in
people’s attitudes, in public policy, in the media, etc.
- Stigma can be reduced by providing accurate information about mental illness and its
treatment
- Everyone has mental health regardless of whether or not they have a mental illness
- A mental illness affects a person’s thinking, feelings or behaviour (or all three) and
causes that person difficulty in functioning
- As with all illnesses, the sooner people get help and receive effective treatment for
mental illness, the better their long and short-term outcomes
- Many of the major mental illnesses begin to emerge during adolescence which is why it
is so important to learn about them now
Major Concepts/Terms:
- Mental health and mental illness
- Mental distress
- Mental health problem
- Stigma (stereotype, prejudice, discrimination)
- Inter-relationship of mental health states
Required Materials:
- A mobile or computer device
- Google Slides notes (on the course website)
- Presentation Software (may vary depending on student choice)
Extra Materials:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGdlpaWi3rc&ab_channel=TeenMentalHealth.Org
 Instructional Activities
Part A (In-Class)
1. Icebreaker activity (Slido.com)
- Students will need a mobile device to participate.
2. Vocabulary Introduction and Share
- Introduce important terms.
- Provide students time to define the words in their own words.
*Note: let students know that they can use their first language to help them out.
- Ask students to share their definitions on Padlet.
3. What is Mental Health? (Google Slides #1-16)
- Discuss the definitions related to mental health.
- What words could a person use to describe his/her emotional state?
- Use the interactive infographic to learn the different mental health states.

Part B (Self-Directed)
1. Concept Review (Genial.ly)
- Students will complete the interactive online quiz to review the vocabularies
covered in Part A.

Part C (In-Class)
1. Discuss results of Student Evaluation Survey
- Review answers together.
*Note: ask students if they were surprised by any of the answers
2. Language Matters (Google Slides #17-20)
- What is stigma?
- How does stigma towards mental health affect the attitudes and behaviours
towards people with mental illness?
3. Discussion Questions (Google Jamboard)
- Collaborate in groups to answer the questions.
- Each group will contribute to the Google Jamboard.
*Note: remind students to review other groups’ contributions on the Jamboard
4. News Article Review
- With a partner, select one news article from the list.
- Use the guiding questions on the Google Slides to evaluate the chosen article.
5. Reflection Project
- Create a review of the news story addressing the issues addressed above.
- Students may choose which format they would like to use (presentation, video,
poster, etc.).
Closing:
1. Project Sharing
- Share your project with the class.
Evaluation:
Reflection (Self-directed)
After students have completed all in-person and self-directed portions of this module they will
complete a summative reflection using the following questions:
- How would you describe mental health and mental illness?
- How did today’s lesson affect your view on Mental Health?
- What are some potential causes of mental illness?
- How would you decrease the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness?
- Discuss what you learned from your peers.

*Recommended: provide student choice in regards to how the reflection is presented.

*Use the provided rubric to mark these reflections.