AGlobalPerspectiveofMentalHealth
WorldMentalHealthDayisobservedonOctober10everyyear,withtheoverall
objectiveofraisingawarenessofmentalhealthissuesaroundtheglobe.
WorldMentalHealthDayisagreatopportunityforteacherstoincorporatealesson
relatedtoglobalmentalhealthawarenessintotheirday.TheSchoolMentalHealth
TrainingandResourceCenterattheMentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,
Inc. (MHANYS) has developed four lesson plans for different grade levels and
disciplinesthatteachersmightconsiderusinginclass.
Lessonplansinclude:
Mindfulness
AGlobalLookatMentalHealthandSuicide
MentalHealthandRefugees
CulturalBeliefsaboutMentalHealthAroundtheWorld
Teachers and administrators may also be interested in reviewingtheWorld
FederationofMentalHealthresourcesassembledathttps://wfmh.global.
ForquestionsormoreinformationcontacttheResourceCenterat518‐434‐0439
orbyemailing[email protected].
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
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MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
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Mindfulness
GradeLevel:K‐12(modificationsfordifferentgradelevels).Theseresourcescanalsobe
incorporatedintoaWellnessDayforstudentsorschoolstaffaspartofaprofessional
developmentmeeting.
Objective: to teach students the benefits of mindfulness and lead them through mindfulness
exercisestheycanuseontheirowntolearntorelax.
Activities/Discussion:
Explaintotheclassthatpeoplethroughouttheworldfeelstressandusedifferentwaystorelax
whentheyarefeelingnervousoruncomfortable.Brainstormwithstudentswhatmakespeople
feelanxiousorstressedinanage‐appropriateway.Discusshowitmakesthemfeel;howtheir
bodyreacts.Askthemiftheyhaveanytechniquestheyusetorelaxwhentheyarestressed.
Mindfulnesslessonplans:ElementaryLevel
Tellthemyouwouldliketoshareaspecialideatoreducestressthatoriginatedinapartofthe
worldthatincludesIndia(showstudentsIndiaonamap).Studentscaneitherstayattheirdesks
orfindaspotonthefloorwiththeirlegscrossedorlyingdownsotheyhavetheirownspace.You
canrecitethetextbeloworusethisvideoofDr.AmySaltzman,ifyou’dprefer.
TheStillQuietPlace–anexercisedesignedbymindfulnessinstructorAmySaltzman.Accessible
onlineat:http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/teachers‐guide/
Thelanguagebelowisforelementaryeducationstudentsbutcanbeadaptedforallages.
Hi,todayIwouldliketoshareoneofmyfavoriteplaceswithyou.ItiscalledStillQuietPlace.
It’snotaplaceyoutraveltoinacar,oratrain,oraplane.Itisaplaceinsideyouthatyoucan
findjustbybreathing.
Let’sfinditnow.Ifyoufeelsafe,closeyoureyes.Whetheryoureyesareopenorclosed,take
someslowdeepbreaths.Seeifyoucanfeelakindofwarmsmileinyourbody.Doyoufeelit?
ThisisyourStillQuietPlace.Takesomemoredeepbreaths,andreallysnugglein.
ThebestthingaboutyourStill QuietPlaceis thatit’salwaysinsideyou.Andyoucanvisit it
wheneveryoulike.ItisnicetovisityourStillQuietPlaceandfeelthelovethatisthere.Itis
especiallyhelpfultovisityourStillQuietPlaceifyouarefeelingangry,orsad,orafraid.TheStill
QuietPlaceisagoodplacetotalkwiththesefeelings,andtomakefriendswiththem.When
yourestinyourStillQuietPlaceandtalktoyourfeelings,youmayfindthatthefeelingsarenot
asbigoraspowerfulastheyseem.Rememberyoucancomeherewheneveryouwant,andstay
aslongasyoulike.
Whenyoufinishthemindfulnessexercisediscussitwithstudents.Askthemhowitmadethem
feel.RemindthemtheycanfindaStillQuietPlaceathome,too.Teachersareencouragedtohave
‘MindfulMoments’withstudentsandremindthemabouttheStillQuietPlaceonaregularbasis.
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
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MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
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Optionalfollow‐upexercisesforelementarylevel:
1) Usethe6‐minutevideointheresourcesbelowonanotherdaytohavestudentspractice
calmingbreathmeditation.
2) Agreatresourceformindfulnessexercisesishttps://www.gonoodle.com/,asitesome
elementaryschoolsonadailybasis.Thereisa30‐dayfreetrialperiodavailable.Thesite
costs$10amonthforteachers;$1,500/yearforaschoolwidesubscription.
3) Incorporatevideoyogastoriesintothedailyschedule.Studentsmovethroughyogaposes
asnarratorreadsastory.Belowaretwoexamples:
GoodMorningYoga(MiriamGates)‐https://youtu.be/u‐a4iOERMRs
Rachel’sDayintheGarden(KidsYogaStories)‐https://youtu.be/OP35lIWpm4w
Extensionassignment:HavestudentsdrawapictureofthemselvesintheirStillQuietPlace.
Mindfulnesslessonplans:Secondarylevel
Thislessoncanbeusedinanymiddleorhighschoolclassroomtohelpstudentscopewithstress
inschool.ItiseasytoincorporateintothecontentofaHealthorPsychologyclass,aBiologyclass
studyingtherespiratorysystemortheimpactofstressonthebody,oraGlobalHistoryclass
studying the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. The teacher should begin by introducing
studentstotheconceptofmindfulnessanditsbenefits.This3‐minuteanimatedvideoisagood
resourcetoshowstudentstohelpinyourbackgrounddiscussion.
Askstudentstofindacomfortableplace–eitherattheirdeskoronthefloor.Softbackground
musicisoptionalasyouspendafewminutesleadingstudentsthroughabreathingrelaxation
exercise. Once students are relaxed the teacher should slowly read through the P.E.A.C.E.
exercise below designed by mindfulness instructor Amy Saltzman. Accessible online at:
http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/teachers‐guide/
Ifweremembertouseit,mindfulnesscanhelpusdealwithdifficultsituations‐‐fromordinary
everydaydifficultieslikelosingyourcellphonetomoreextremedifficultieslikefailingaclass,
breakingupwithagirlfriendorboyfriend,havingafamilymemberorfriendgotojailormaybe
evengoingtojailyourself,orgrievingadeathinyourfamilyorcommunity.
Mindfulnessismuch more thanjustwatching the breath.Forme, thepowerand beauty of
mindfulnessisthatusingithelpsmewhenthingsaremostdifficult.
PEACEisanacronymforapracticethatcanbeusedinanydifficultsituation.Perhapsyoucan
begin by practicing with small daily irritations. Those of you dealing with more extreme
circumstancesmayneedtorepeatthepracticemanytimesaday,andyoumayalsowanttoget
additionalhelpfromafriend,aparent,acounselor,oradoctor.
Thepracticegoeslikethis.
P‐Pisforpause.Whenyoubecomeawarethatthingsaredifficult,pause.
E‐Eisforexhale.Whenyouexhaleyoumaywanttoletoutasigh,oragroan,orevenweep.
Andafteryouexhaleyouwantto...Inhale.Justkeepbreathing.
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
f
MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
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A‐Aisforacknowledge,accept,allow.Asyoucontinuetobreathe,acknowledgethesituation
asitis.Yourbackpackwithallyourstuffisgone,yourparentsaregettingdivorced,yourbest
friendisnowdatingthepersonwhojustbecameyourex…Acknowledgingasituationdoesn’t
meanyouarehappyaboutit.Itjustmeansthatyourecognizethesituationisasitis,whether
youlikeitornot.
Acceptthesituation,andyourreactiontoit.Youarefurious,devastated,heartbroken,jealous,
oralloftheabove.
Allowyourexperience. Doyourbest torestin the StillQuiet Place andwatchthe thoughts,
feelings,and bodysensations. Noticewhenyouaretemptedtosuppressyourexperienceby
pretendingyouarefine,ortocreateadditionaldramabyrehashingthingsinyourheadorwith
friends.Andallowthis,too.Seeifyoucandiscoveramiddleway:havingyourthoughtsand
feelings,withoutyourthoughtsandfeelingshavingyouandmakingyouactinwaysyoumay
regret.
C‐Cisforchoose.Whenyouareready,andthismaytakeafewmoments,days,weeksoreven
months,choosehowyouwillrespond.Atitsbest,respondinginvolvessomeadditionalCs.
Clarity:beingclearaboutwhatyouwant,whatyourlimitsare,whatyouareresponsible
for.
Courage:thecouragetospeakyourtruth,andtohearthetruthofothers.
Compassion:compassionforyourself,forothers,andforhowincrediblydifficultit
sometimesistobeahumanbeing,and
Comedy:(Actually,Ipreferthewordhumor,butitdoesn’tstartwithC.)Itisamazingwhat
asenseofhumorandawillingnesstonottakeourselvestooseriouslycando.
E‐Eisforengage.Afteryouhavepaused,exhaled,allowed,andchosenyourresponse,youare
readytoengagewithpeople,withthesituation,withlife.
Remember,ifitispossible,practicewithsmallupsetsfirst.Forextremecircumstancesyoumay
havetorepeatthisprocessoverandoverandreceiveadditionalsupport.Themoreyoupractice,
themorePEACEyouwillhave.
AttheendofthePEACEmindfulnesssession,theteacherleadsadiscussionaskingstudents
howtheyfeltduringpractice.Wouldtheyconsiderusingitathome?Itmaybebeneficialfor
studentstojournaltheiranswerstothefollowingquestionssotheycanreflectprivately:
Whatcameupforyouduringthepractice?
Aretheresituationsinyourlifewherethispracticemightbehelpful?
AreyouwillingtopracticePEACEwhendifficultiesariseduringthecomingweeks?
ReinforcethePEACEpracticebykeepingitonablackboardorbulletinboardforstudentstorefer
tointimeofneed.Itwouldalsobehelpfultoengageinfurthermeditationsessionsandremind
studentsaboutPEACEduringtheyearwhentheyarefacingstress.
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
f
MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
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Optionalfollow‐upexercisesforsecondarylevel:
Timepermitting,the20‐minuteguidedmeditationvideocouldbeusedintheclassroomatalater
date.Studentscouldalsousethisvideoathome.Therearemanyshorteroptionsavailableon
YouTube.Encouragestudentstofindonesthatworkforthemandsharethemwiththeclass.
Thevideoonmindfulnesstechniquesforpre‐teensandteenscouldalsobediscussedand
practicedinclassorathome.
Resourcesformindfulnesslessonplans:
ElementaryLevel
‐ PracticevideosatDr.AmySatzman’swebsite‐http://www.stillquietplace.com/practice‐videos/
‐ Bookreadingswithyogaposes:
GoodMorningYoga(MiriamGates)‐https://youtu.be/u‐a4iOERMRs
Rachel’sDayintheGarden(KidsYogaStories)‐https://youtu.be/OP35lIWpm4w
‐ A6‐minutecalmingbreathmeditationvideodesignedtointroducechildrentomindfulness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvF9AEe‐ozc
‐ Mindfulnessexercises(subscriptionrequiredtoaccessfullsite)‐https://www.gonoodle.com/
SecondaryLevel
‐ Thebenefitsofmindfulnessandmeditationaredescribedina3‐minuteanimatedvideo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjtfyuTTQFY
‐ Mindfulnesstechniquesforpre‐teensandteens
https://www.doyouyoga.com/10‐cool‐meditations‐for‐pre‐teens‐and‐teens‐67578/
‐ 20‐minuteguidedmeditationforteenagers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5sXaLzAhGQ
‐ ResourcesonthehistoryofBuddhismandmeditationwhenteachingaboutworldreligionsina
GlobalHistoryclassroom‐http://www.pbs.org/thebuddha/lesson‐plans/
ForAllGradeLevels
‐ Mindfulness: A Guide for Teachers by Amy Saltzman, a holistic physician and nationally
recognized mindfulness teacher, provides a historical perspective of mindfulness, extensive
informationaboutthebenefitsandstrategiesforuseintheK‐12classroom.
http://www.contemplativemind.org/Mindfulness‐A_Teachers_Guide.pdf
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
f
MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
6
AGlobalLookatMentalHealthandSuicide
GradeLevel:Middle/HighSchool(Health,Psychology)
Objective:toexposestudentstoglobalissuessurroundingmentalhealthandsuicidetogaina
greaterappreciationforthescopeofproblemsfacedbypeopleworldwide.
Activities/Discussion:
-
Explain the purpose of World Mental Health Day to students as described in the
introduction.
-
Showthe2‐minuteWorldBankvideoontheimpactofmentalhealthconcernsworldwide.
Discussthefindingsandaskstudentsiftheyaresurprisedbyanyofthestatistics.
-
DiscussthefactsheetonglobalmentalhealthfromtheInternationalMedicalCorpsand
pointoutstatisticsofinterest.
-
ExplaintostudentsthatsuicideisamajorissuenotonlyintheUnitedStates,butglobally.
Reviewsuicidefactsandstatisticsprovided by World Health Organization, including
globalmap.Discusspossibilitiesfordifferencesinrates,includingcultureandchallenges
relatedtoaccuratedatareporting.TosummarizeWHOstatistics:closeto800,000people
dieduetosuicideeveryyear,whichisonepersonevery40seconds.Manymoreattempt
suicide.Suicideoccursthroughoutthelifespanandisthesecondleadingcauseofdeath
among15‐29yearoldsglobally.
-
Showstudentsthe5‐minutevideoonpreventingsuicideanddiscuss.
Resourcesforglobalmentalhealthlessonplans:
‐ 2016WorldBank(2minute)videoontheimpactofmentalhealthconcernsworldwide
https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/International‐Medical‐
Corps‐2014‐Mental‐Health‐One‐Sheet.pdf
‐ FactSheetonglobalmentalhealthfromtheInternationalMedicalCorps
https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/wp‐content/uploads/2017/07/International‐Medical‐
Corps‐2014‐Mental‐Health‐One‐Sheet.pdf
‐ Worldsuicidestatistics,includingmapofprevalencerates(source:WorldHealthOrganization)
http://www.who.int/mental_health/suicide‐prevention/en/
‐ WHOvideoaboutsuicideworldwide
https://youtu.be/8NVBMfdP1Ww
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
f
MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
7
MentalHealthandRefugees
GradeLevel:HighSchool(Health,Psychology,Sociology,SocialStudies)
Objective:tohavestudentsunderstandthepsychologicalstrugglesofrefugeesastheyadjustto
anewhome
Activities/Discussion:
-
Ask students if they know what the letters PTSD stand for and what it is. Discuss
circumstancesthatmayleadtoPTSDinchildrenoradults(deathofalovedone,childhood
trauma,caraccident,war,naturaldisaster,etc.)
-
ExplainthatPTSDisexperiencedbypeopleworldwide,includingrefugeeswholeavetheir
homelands.Syrianrefugees,whohavecometoEuropeandtheUSinlargenumbersin
thepastfewyears,havebeenseriouslyimpactedbythis.
-
Show2‐minutevideoonSyrianrefugeesandPTSD.
-
Readthearticle‘TheTroubledMindofMigrants’intheOctober2016issueofNature,an
international weekly journal of science. Instruct students to answer the following
questionsindividually,insmallgroupsorasaclass:
1. EuropeancountrieslikeGermanyhavetakeninmillionsofrefugeesinthepastfew
years.Wherearemostoftheserefugeescomingfrom?
2. Whattypeofstressorshaverefugeesfacedintheirhomecountryandastheyhave
traveledtonewcountries?Brainstormtheseasyoureadthearticle.
3. BeyondPTSD,whatothermentalhealthissueshavetheyfaced?
4. Whatsolutionsareprofessionalsusingtohelprefugeesandwhataresomeobstacles
toprovidinggoodmentalhealthcaretorefugees?
5. Ifyouwereforcedtomigratefromyourhome,whatpsychologicalproblemsdoyou
thinkyouoryourfamilymembersmightface?
Resourcesforrefugeementalhealthlessonplans:
‐ videoonSyrianrefugeesandPTSD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu0KqLKr7‐M
‐ October2016Naturearticle,“TheTroubledMindofMigrants”
https://www.nature.com/news/the‐mental‐health‐crisis‐among‐migrants‐1.20767
WorldMentalHealthDayLessonPlans
Copyright2019|MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.TheSchoolMentalHealthResourceandTrainingCenterisaprojecto
f
MentalHealthAssociationinNewYorkState,Inc.withfundingfromtheNewYorkStateLegislatureandExecutive
8
CulturalBeliefsaboutMentalHealthAroundtheWorld
GradeLevel:HighSchool(Health,Psychology,Sociology,SocialStudies)
Objective:togivestudentsagreaterawarenessofthecultural/societaldifferencesthatexistin
diagnosingmentalhealthdisordersthroughouttheworld.
Itisrecommendedthatteachersreadthefollowingarticleinpreparationofthislessonwith
students:PossessedorCrazy?MentalIllnessAcrossCultures
Activities/Discussion:
-
AskstudentswhatadoctorintheUnitedStatesmightsayaboutapersonwhowashaving
regularhallucinations.Discusswhatkindsofhallucinationspeoplemighthave(auditory,
visual,etc.).Usethisarticletofamiliarizeyourselfwithhallucinations.
-
Havestudentsviewthefollowingvideoaboutthedifferenceinculturalbeliefsglobally
aboutthepurposeofhallucinations(Youwillneedtoregistertoviewtheentirevideo).
Discuss.
-
Havestudentsreadthearticle ‘The Culture of Mental Illness’ from Psychology Today
eitherindividually,insmallgroupsorasaclass.Discussthedifferentsectionsofthearticle
eitherasyoureadtogetheroraftertheyhavereaditsilently.Focusonsomedisorders
thatareperceiveddifferentlyinAmericansocietythanintraditionalsocietiesandwhy,
suchasdepressionandeatingdisorders,aswellaspsychosis.
Resourcesforworldculturalbeliefslessonplans:
‐PsychologyTodayarticle:“PossessedorCrazy?MentalIllnessAcrossCultures”
http://www.psychotherapy.com.au/fileadmin/site_files/pdfs/InterfaceFeb2009.pdf
‐ WebMDarticleabouthallucinations
https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what‐are‐hallucinations#1
‐ Videoaboutthedifferenceinculturalbeliefsgloballyaboutthepurposeofhallucinations
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what‐is‐hallucination‐definition‐causes‐types.html
‐ PsychologyTodayarticle:“TheCultureofMentalIllness”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide‐and‐seek/201206/the‐culture‐mental‐illness