Lesson 3: Mental health myths
Introduction In this lesson, pupils are encouraged to explore stigma further and clarify understanding and extend knowledge by using a quiz. It helps to highlight that we all believe in some myths around mental health, and that this can get in the way of helping others when they are going through difficult times, or in asking for help ourselves. It also highlights that we will all inevitably talk to someone who will be going through difficulties with their mental health at some point, and so sets the base point for learning about listening and asking for help in the next lesson. Aims – To dispel myths associated with mental health using a quiz – To explore and understand the need for developing some tools to support mental health Resources – Quiz sheets, photocopied
Method The teacher gives pupils the quiz sheets and asks them to guess which of the questions are true, and which are false. They then give the correct answers and use this as the basis for discussion, questions, and reflections. The key message is not to get too hung up on specific numbers, but to highlight the broad messages that mental health issues are common, that stigma is not necessarily justified, and that recovery can and does happen. This can also be a great opportunity for pupils to reflect on what other myths around mental health they may believe and examine myths that stand in the way of treating someone experiencing poor mental health with compassion or looking for help themselves.
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