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      How talking supports mental health

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how talking about feelings can help manage problems.

      Key learning points

      1. Everyone has mental health.
      2. Everyone's mental health is different, as is the type of support they might need.
      3. Bottling up feelings or ignoring feelings makes things more difficult later.
      4. There are lots of places and people who can provide mental health support.

      Keywords

      • Mental health - the health of our minds and emotions

      • Support - the actions taken to help someone who is in a difficult or dangerous situation, such as providing care and seeking medical attention

      • Stress - your body and mind's response to challenging situations

      Common misconception

      Talking about feelings is a sign of weakness.

      Anyone can talk about their feelings - everyone has feelings and talking about them is a sign of strength, not weakness.

      Teacher tip

      Encourage students to reflect on the stresses that fill their buckets, and consider who they could talk to about their feelings.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the words to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:feelings,our thoughts and opinions about things

      our thoughts and opinions about things

      Correct Answer:emotions,feelings we have inside, like happiness, sadness or anger

      feelings we have inside, like happiness, sadness or anger

      Correct Answer:sensations,a feeling in our bodies or on our skin

      a feeling in our bodies or on our skin

      Q2.
      Which of these statements are true?

      Correct answer: Everyone has mental health.
      Correct answer: It's important to feel all feelings, including tricky ones like anger or worry.
      Our mental health is less important than our physical health.
      Mental health concerns should be dealt with alone.

      Q3.
      Which of these can support better mental health?

      lots of screen time without breaks
      spending all our free time alone
      Correct answer: connecting with friends and family
      getting very little sleep
      Correct answer: exercising regularly

      Q4.
      Andeep is starting a new sports club. His heart is racing, his palms are sweaty and his legs feel like jelly. Which emotion do you think he might be feeling?

      confidence
      jealousy
      anger
      Correct answer: worry
      happiness

      Q5.
      Which of the following are healthy ways to communicate feelings?

      Correct answer: pictures
      Correct answer: metaphors
      shouting at people
      Correct answer: an emotions chart

      Q6.
      If we are struggling to work out how we are feeling, we can talk to a .

      Correct Answer: trusted adult, parent, carer, teacher, member of staff

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the following words to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:mental health,the health of our minds and emotions

      the health of our minds and emotions

      Correct Answer:support,the actions taken to help anyone in a difficult or dangerous situation

      the actions taken to help anyone in a difficult or dangerous situation

      Correct Answer:stress,your body and mind's response to challenging situations

      your body and mind's response to challenging situations

      Q2.
      Which of the following statements are true?

      Mental health is the same for everyone.
      Correct answer: Mental health varies from one person to the next.
      Correct answer: Mental health can change depending on people's circumstances.
      There is no support available for mental health.

      Q3.
      Good mental health doesn't mean being all the time.

      Correct Answer: happy

      Q4.
      Talking to people about your feelings is ...

      wrong because your feelings are private
      a sign of weakness
      Correct answer: healthy because it can help your stresses to feel lighter
      Correct answer: a sign of strength

      Q5.
      Alex is worried about a friend who has been struggling with their mental health for a very long time. What should Alex do?

      keep it to himself
      wait and see if things improve by themselves
      Correct answer: talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, carer or teacher
      distance himself from that friend until they cheer up

      Q6.
      Which of these might be examples of day-to-day stresses?

      Correct answer: preparing for exams
      Correct answer: falling out with a friend
      the loss of a loved one
      Correct answer: forgetting to do a homework

      To help you plan your 8 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: How talking supports mental health, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...