Lesson 4: Listening and helpful talking
Introduction This session highlights the importance of listening to a person who needs support and introduces some skills on how to listen more effectively. It also emphasises the importance of asking for help and gets pupils to reflect on the social support networks they can turn to. The helpful listening and talking principles are especially useful when having conversations about mental health, but they are really useful life skills we can all apply most days. Aims – To practise listening and reflect on its effectiveness – To encourage pupils to talk about difficult issues and ask for support Resources – Room for pupils to move around – Listening activity page (statements are photocopied, cut into strips and laminated) – Listening and helpful talking activity sheet, with pens
Method The session will be run in two parts. Firstly pupils will be asked to consider how they might identify that someone is having difficulties from an emotional and mental health perspective. Pupils are asked to list signs and symptoms. They are then asked to further consider that there might not be any visible signs or symptoms, as people with mental health difficulties become very good at hiding them. This might be because they feel they may be judged and/ or criticised. The teacher then explains that, however we become aware of someone experiencing poor mental health, having a good conversation with them can be an important step in them looking for help. Learning to listen well can really help with this. On the other hand, if we noticed some signs in ourselves, it is really important we also learn to ask for help and support from others, so we will look at this, too. The teacher then runs through the good listening activity and the listening and helpful talking exercises. Explain to pupils that while listening to someone, sometimes they might tell you about really difficult thoughts they are having, including thoughts of suicide. Explain that if this happens it is important to seek help from an adult immediately. Pupils should not feel that they have to support another pupil if they don’t feel able to do so. Highlight that it is OK to say, “I want to help you, but I don’t know how, so I’m going to ask someone who can.” The helpful talking skills can also make it easier to ask for help.
31
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker