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Lesson 4 of 5
  • Year 10

Depression

I can describe some common features of depression and explain how to support someone and when to get help.

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View unit
Lesson 4 of 5
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  • Year 10

Depression

I can describe some common features of depression and explain how to support someone and when to get help.

Download all
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Depression is a common mental health condition that affects thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
  2. Support strategies for someone with depression include listening, showing empathy and encouraging professional help.
  3. Recognising when to seek help for depression is important, including knowing the signs and available resource options.

Keywords

  • Depression - a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest that affects how you think and feel; it can make daily activities hard and may include physical symptoms

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

  • Stigma - being judged or treated unfairly just because of a particular characteristic, situation or condition, like having a mental health condition

  • Empathy - the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

  • Resource - something we can use to help us

Common misconception

Depression is just feeling sad.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, not just a temporary emotion.


To help you plan your year 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Depression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Most schools have a senior mental health lead; You should speak with them before delivering this lesson for additional guidance or support.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the definitions.

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

your body and mind's response to challenging situations

Correct Answer:anxiety,a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcome

a state of unease, worry or nervousness about uncertain outcome

Correct Answer:hygiene,practices to maintain health and prevent disease

practices to maintain health and prevent disease

Correct Answer:hormones,chemicals in the body that act like messengers

chemicals in the body that act like messengers

Q2.
are things that put us under pressure and can cause anxiety or stress.

Correct Answer: Stressors

Q3.
Physical symptoms of stress do not include:

headache
stomach ache
muscle tension
increased blood pressure
Correct answer: feeling upset

Q4.
Emotional symptoms of stress do not include:

feeling overwhelmed
anxiety
Correct answer: developing nervous habits
Correct answer: changes to appetite
being irritable

Q5.
Self-care strategies can help to protect our mental wellbeing by ...

Correct answer: improving our mood and reducing stress
ignoring problems until they go away
Correct answer: helping us build healthy habits, like regular sleep and exercise
avoiding talking to anyone about our feelings
making us feel worse over longer periods of time

Q6.
What is OCD?

Correct answer: a condition where a person has unwanted thoughts and repeats certain actions
a type of depression that only affects teenagers and young people
a personality trait where someone is always organised and neat
a temporary mood swing that only lasts for a few hours, no more

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Depression is ...

a feeling of sadness which will go away if you ignore it.
Correct answer: a common mental health condition characterised by persistent sadness.
a condition that can only be cured by specific medication.
a sign that someone does not look after themselves properly.

Q2.
Match the words to the correct definitions.

Correct Answer:support,the actions taken to help someone

the actions taken to help someone

Correct Answer:empathy,the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Correct Answer:resource,something we can use to help us

something we can use to help us

Q3.
Ways to support someone who is experiencing symptoms of depression include:

Correct answer: showing empathy
Correct answer: listening patiently
being judgemental
not checking in
ignoring what they say

Q4.
Sometimes people don’t open up about their feelings because of the worry about associated with depression.

Correct Answer: stigma, prejudice

Q5.
Symptoms of depression do not include:

low energy or constant tiredness
Correct answer: making lots of new friends and being sociable
loss of interest in things someone used to enjoy
feeling hopeless and helpless
difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Q6.
Reliable resources for help with depression include:

Correct answer: using online services of a recognised charity
taking advice from untrained social media influencers
Correct answer: speaking to a trained professional
Correct answer: joining an NHS peer support group
Correct answer: seeking a referral from your GP