Year 10 Health & PE · Health and Physical Education · 12m read

Mental Health — Resilience, Help-Seeking and Supporting Others

Year 10 brings exams, change and pressure. Knowing how to look after your mental health — and help mates — is one of the most important skills you can learn.

Learning objective: Develop strategies for resilience and supporting the mental health of self and others.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can describe the mental health continuum.
• I can apply coping and resilience strategies.
• I can support a friend and know when to seek help.

Resilience is a backpack of tools. Everyone carries a backpack through tough times. Fill it with coping tools — talking to someone, exercise, sleep, problem-solving — and the load feels lighter.

Mental Health — Resilience, Help-Seeking and Supporting Others

MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM:
• Flourishing → coping → struggling → unwell; people move along it.

RESILIENCE:
• Ability to adapt and bounce back.
• Protective factors: connection, sleep, exercise, routines, problem-solving, help-seeking.

COPING STRATEGIES:
• Healthy: talking to someone, exercise, mindfulness, breaking tasks down.
• Unhealthy: avoidance, substance use, isolation.

SUPPORTING OTHERS:
• Notice changes, ask "Are you OK?", listen without judgement, encourage professional help.
• If someone is at immediate risk, tell a trusted adult or call 000.

SERVICES:
• headspace, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Lifeline (13 11 14), school counsellor, GP.

| Warning sign | Supportive response |
|---|---|
| Withdrawal from friends | Check in privately |
| Changes in sleep/eating | Listen without judging |
| Loss of interest | Encourage professional help |
| Talk of hopelessness | Tell a trusted adult immediately |

Key ideas at a glance

• Mental health is a continuum: Everyone moves along it.
• Help-seeking is strength: Not weakness.
• Know services: Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800, headspace, Lifeline 13 11 14.
• Look after yourself too: Supporters need support.

Worked example (Medium)

A friend has withdrawn and says nothing matters any more. What should you do?

1. Notice and ask. Check in privately and ask directly how they are.
2. Listen. Without judgement.
3. Get help. Encourage and help them contact a trusted adult or service; if at risk, tell an adult immediately.

Answer: Ask, listen and connect them with an adult or professional help — do not keep it secret if they are at risk.

Worked example (Medium)

A friend says they feel overwhelmed. Respond helpfully.

1. Listen. "I'm here. Want to talk about it?"
2. Validate. "That sounds really hard."
3. Encourage help. Suggest school counsellor or headspace.

Answer: Listen, validate and connect to help.

Common mistakes

• Promising to keep a risk secret Safety comes first. Fix: Tell a trusted adult if someone may be at risk.

Practice questions

1. Which is a healthy coping strategy?

   1. Isolating yourself
   2. Talking to a trusted person
   3. Using alcohol
   4. Ignoring problems

   (1 marks)

2. Give two protective factors for mental health.

   (2 marks)

3. Kids Helpline's number is:

   1. 000
   2. 1800 55 1800
   3. 13 11 14
   4. 131 444

   (1 marks)

4. Name two protective factors for mental health.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Mental health is a continuum.
• Build resilience and healthy coping.
• Support others and seek help.
• Build resilience; seek and offer help.