Healthy Minds

Mental Illness — Spotting & Supporting

This lesson equips students with the practical skills to recognise early warning signs of mental illness in others, initiate supportive conversations, and signpost to appropriate help. Through the Mental Health Support MindMap, a Recognise the Warning Signs worksheet, the What Next worksheet, and real quotes from young people on how to talk to a friend, students build both the knowledge and the confidence to respond when someone they care about may be struggling.

Learning Outcomes

Outcome 1:

Recognise the early warning signs of mental illness

Outcome 2:

Model how to have a conversation with a friend about their mental health

Outcome 3:

Know when, where, how, and why to get support for myself or a friend

What's included

A quick look at the classroom-ready resources that come with this lesson.

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Healthy Minds Teacher Guide — Resilience Competencies page 8
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Student Handbook — Recognise the Warning Signs page 25
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What Next page 26
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Top Tips for Talking to a Friend page 27
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Sources of Further Support page 2
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About Bounce Forward

Bounce Forward provides evidenced, practical educational resources that help young people build mental resilience, emotional wellbeing, and a growth mindset.

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