Fluctuating mental health
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what influences mental health over a lifetime.
Key learning points
- You can experience a range of emotions while having good mental health.
- Mental health fluctuates across a lifetime.
- Big life events can affect mental health.
- Substance abuse and addiction can affect mental health, as well as being a sign of poor mental health.
- Online content can have long-lasting effects on mental health, and some of it promotes harmful behaviour.
Keywords
Mental health - the health of our minds and emotions
Substance abuse - using drugs or alcohol harmfully, hurting health, relationships or daily life in ways hard to control
Common misconception
Generally, a person's mental health tends to stay the same throughout their lifetime.
Each person’s mental health can fluctuate both day-to-day and across their lifetime. The type of support that they might need can also change over time.
Teacher tip
This is a sensitive topic and pupils will have different experiences of mental health. It's important to use considered language and ensure that pupils are clearly signposted to further support where necessary.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following words to their correct definition.
a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcomes
feeling overwhelmed, anxious or pressured when facing challenges
actions taken to help someone in a difficult or dangerous situation
Q2.Which of the following statements are true?
Q3.Which of the following are examples of self-care strategies that could improve mental health?
Q4. is a mental health condition characterised by a persistent feeling of sadness, and a loss of interest that affects how you think and feel.
Q5.If anyone has been struggling with their mental health for a long period of time, it would be a good idea to ...
Q6.Which of the following could negatively impact a person's mental health?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the following words to the correct definitions.
the health of our minds and emotions
feelings we have inside, like happiness, sadness or anger
using drugs or alcohol harmfully in ways that are hard to control
Q2.Mental health is how well we feel emotionally, and socially.
Q3.Which of the following statements are true?
Q4.Even if we have good mental health, we can still experience a range of ...
Q5.Which of the following could have a negative effect on mental health?
Q6.Which of the statements below are false?
To help you plan your 11 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Fluctuating mental health, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Fluctuating mental health, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Mental health: How might my mental health change? unit, dive into the full secondary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.