Basic Mental Health

Awareness
(Children & young people)

1
 Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss some of the commonly held misconceptions

surrounding mental health
2. Describe what mental health means
3. Discuss what can affect mental health and wellbeing
4. Discuss what signs to look out for when concerned about an
individual’s mental health
5. Discuss what protects, promotes and supports mental
health
6. List resources that can help support mental health and
wellbeing

2
 Overview

• What is mental health?

• The statistics

• What can affect children and young peoples mental

health?

• What to look out for?

• Protecting, promoting and supporting CYP mental health

• Looking after yourself

3
 Mental Health Quiz

Lets start by looking at some of the myths that surround mental health.

Individually, answer True or False to the following statements:

 Mental Health Quiz
Only certain kinds of people develop mental health problems True/False
There are many different types of mental health problems True/False

Most people who have mental health problems end up in hospital True/False

If you think you have a mental health problem you should talk to True/False
someone about it

People are born with mental health problems True/False

You can tell someone has a mental health problem by looking at then True/False

You cannot recover from mental health problems True/False

People with mental health problems are likely to be violent True/False

 Quiz Answers
1. False-Anyone can develop a mental health problem.
2.True-There are many different types of mental health problems.
3. False-Very few require hospital treatment.
4. True-Support is a positive factor in preventing mental health problems
and promoting recovery
5. False-You cannot be born with a mental health problem.
6. False-You cannot “see” a mental health problem.
7. False-The majority of people who experience a mental health problem
do with help, make a complete recovery.
8. False-The overwhelming majority of people with severe mental health
problems experience symptoms which though distressing, do not
make them violent or dangerous to the public

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What is mental health? -Quickthink

Now we are going to explore what we mean by

mental health?

Individually or as a group, discuss what mental

health means to you and agree on a
definition/statement of mental health.
 What is mental health?

• “Mental health is defined as a state of well-being

in which every individual realizes his or her own
potential, can cope with the normal stresses of
life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to her or his
community”
(World Health Organisation)
 Statistics
• Every year 1 in 10 young people experiences a mental health problem

• Over ¾ of mental health problems have there onset by the age of 20

• 11% of 18-34 year olds report having attempted suicide and 16% report
self-harm at some stage in their lives

• Suicide is the largest cause of mortality for young people under 35

• Young people in the youth justice system are 3 times more likely to
experience a diagnosable mental health condition than children who
don’t offend

• Children affected by learning disabilities are 4 times more likely to have

a diagnosable emotional mental health problem

• ¾ of children raised in local authority residential homes meet with

criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis
 Statistics-Feedback

Discussion point:

Having read the statistical information, what are

your thoughts and views, are you surprised?
 What can affect Young Peoples mental
health ?

We have looked at some of the myths, what

we mean by mental health and some of the
statistics, now we are going to look at what
can affect young peoples mental health.
Quick think-What can affect Young Peoples
mental health ?

Individually or as a group, discuss and write

down what things can affect young peoples
mental health?
• Social
• Emotional
• Physical
 What can affect CYP mental health ?

• Poverty • Physical abuse

• Bereavement • Sexual abuse
• Imprisonment • Peer pressure
• Divorce/separation • School pressures
• Bullying • Caring
• Long term illness responsibilities
• Addiction
 What to look out for?

We have looked at what can affect young peoples mental

health and now we are going to explore when we
should be worried about Young Peoples mental health?

What signs would we be looking for?

 What to look out for?

• Withdrawn • Self harming

• Decline in school behaviours
performance • Absenteeism from
• Physical school, youth club
appearance • Lack of interest in
• Aggressive things they used
• Changes in to enjoy
eating/sleeping
habits
 Protecting, promoting and supporting
CYP mental health
Individually or as a group, discuss and identify what young
people might need, within the 3 areas below, to help protect,
promote and support young people:

• How I grow and develop

• What I need from people who look after me
• Wider world
 Protecting, promoting and supporting
CYP mental health

Good coping and Support through

problem solving ongoing mental
skills health care

Stable and
Supportive
supportive
trusted adult
environments

Financial
security
Feeling safe

Amenities and
Strong connections to
Access to social services
family and community
networks
support
What resources are available to
support YP mental health?
Now we are going to look at what resources are
available to support YP mental health. This
might be local, city and national resources.

Discuss and list what resources you know of

that can support YP mental health.

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 Looking after yourself
Things I can do

………by myself
………with others

People I can talk to…….

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