LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Define the term “mental health”; identify truths as well as common misconceptions about mental health; describe how to keep your mental health in the best shape possible.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.

CASEL: Self-management; self-awareness

KEY VOCAB

psychological

enhance

depression

anxiety

self-esteem

Lesson Plan: A User's Guide to Mental Health

You hear the term “mental health” a lot these days. But what does it even mean? Here’s what mental health really is—and what it isn’t.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “A User’s Guide to Mental Health” ask your students the following pre-reading questions:

Which factors contribute to the state of your mental health, and how can you keep yours in the best shape possible?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “A User’s Guide to Mental Health” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading questions. Have their answers changed?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Comprehension Quiz
  • Vocab Builder

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:

In MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN, have students write a one- to two-page journal response to one of the following options:

  • Option 1: Have students reflect on what they learned in the article. Have them start by explaining which facts and tips from the article they found most useful, and why. Then they should think of factors that are affecting their overall state of mental health either positively or negatively. (Some examples might be sleep, social media use, quality of diet, and whether they’ve been getting adequate exercise.) They should also consider how they might go about adjusting the habits they feel are impacting them negatively. To conclude, they should consider how checking in with their mental health made them feel.
  • Option 2 is to choose one or two of the prompts from the article, and use them to guide their response.

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