Core themes: Health & Wellbeing and Relationships
Mental health

Support your pupils to stay healthy and safe while equipping them to help others.

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Teachers can find this topic daunting, but we’re here to help you address mental health and emotional wellbeing safely, sensitively, and confidently.
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Subject Specialist

Supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing

PSHE education helps children and young people to understand their own and others’ emotions, develop healthy coping strategies and seek appropriate support. And talking openly about mental health issues is an effective means of breaking down any associated stigma.

Teaching about mental health and emotional wellbeing is also now a requirement as part of statutory Health Education. Our guidance, lesson plans and training will help you cover all statutory content safely, sensitively and in a way that’s appropriate to age or stage of development.

PSHE education equips pupils to adopt healthy behaviours and strategies from an early age, and to seek trustworthy support when they or their friends need it. Protective learning – including good communication, problem-solving, healthy coping skills, resilience and recognising emotions – can reduce the risk of pupils turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms. These factors lay the foundations for more specific learning about mental health later on, including a focus on issues such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

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Training and events

  • KS3-4

    Twilight CPD: Top tips for teaching about mental health (secondary)

    29 Apr
    £95 per person
    This session will build your confidence in teaching about statutory mental health and emotional wellbeing effectively. You will explore the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to safely teach this crucial but challenging part of PSHE, and the role it plays in safeguarding students.
See all training and events

Guidance

KS1-4
PSHE Association guidance on teaching about mental health and emotional wellbeing.
KS1-5
Guidance and top tips on setting ground rules and distancing learning in PSHE education.
KS1-5
15 top tips to help you choose PSHE education resources to use in the classroom.
KS1-5
Ensure external visitors or speakers make a safe and effective contribution to your school's PSHE programme.
KS1-5
Editable templates to support those observing PSHE lessons and help you carry out a 'learning walk'. Cross-phase. 
See all guidance

Research and evidence

Published: October 6, 2021
KS1-5
A short evidence briefing on pupils who report receiving good PSHE provision and their wellbeing in school.
Published: October 4, 2021
KS1-5
A report outlining the case for making PSHE education a statutory subject.
Published: October 11, 2021
KS1-4
Published by Public Health England, this report outlines evidence that promoting pupil health and wellbeing as part of a whole-school approach can also have a positive impact on educational outcomes.

Planning PSHE in your school

Here's everything you need to audit your provision, break down what you need to cover by key stage, and design an engaging scheme of work.
  • PoS cover page
    The Programme of Study for PSHE education includes all learning opportunities from KS1-4, so you have clarity on what to cover and when.
  • PB grid page
    Our Programme Builders help you design an engaging, effective scheme of work, and signpost to quality assured lesson plans to use.
  • SRT screenshot
    Audit your current provision and get a personalised report with advice on next steps.