Issues

This activity allows you to identify where young people currently get their information on mental ill-health.

What you will need: fact sheets

Preparation:

Please read the fact sheets to familiarise yourselves with mental ill-health and stigmas

What to do:

• Run this activity as a whole class discussion.
• Ask your pupils to brainstorm about one diagnosis (or 2 or 3 depending how much time you have). Each diagnosis will take roughly 10 minutues. Ask them to share anything that they thing they know about this diagnosis. 
• Write any answers you get down on the class board. 
• After you have at least four or five things written down, ask the pupils where this information has come from (eg TV, parents, teachers, books, media) and then add that information on the board in a different coloured marker. 
• Using the factsheet, go through the different answers and correct anything that is misinformed (paying particular attention to tackling any stigmas).

Example:

• Diagnosis: Eating Disorders
• Stigma: People choose to become anorexic
• Why?: It is often portrayed in soap operas as a choice, a way to lose weight or gain attention.
• What is it really?: People do not choose to have eating disorders. They are developed over time and require appropriate treatment to deal with complex medical/psychiatric symptoms and underlying issues.

Examples of mental ill-health:

• Eating Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Phobias
• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Some suggestions:

• This activity can be run in groups also.

Learning outcome:

Pupils will gain a better understanding of diagnoses and stigma.

'HWB 0-05a / HWB 1-05a / HWB 2-05a / HWB 3-05a / HWB 4-05a
I know that friendship, caring, sharing, fairness, equality and love are important in building positive relationships. As I develop and value relationships, I care and show respect for myself and others.'