Participants learn about the importance of mental health and make their own mental health first aid kit.
Before you start
- Try activity 1 (stress ball) and activity 2 (glitter jar) to make sure you understand how these work and what young people might struggle with. You could also use the ones you make as examples
- Have a projector or a screen big enough for everyone to see
- Shoeboxes/cardboard boxes (one per participant)
- Paint and paintbrushes or colouring pens/markers/pencils
- Paper/card
- Scissors per person or per pair
- Ribbons or scrap fabric (optional)
- Balloon per person
- Rice
- Funnel per person or pair
- Jar per person
- Glitter
- PVA glue
- Water
What to do
What is mental health and why is it important for your overall well being?
Ask young people if they know what mental health means. Ask why it is important to recognise and mind your overall mental health and well-being. Make sure you clarify that mental health isn’t just something we have when we’re struggling, it’s something we all have, just some people’s mental health is better than others. But there are things we can all do to keep on top of our mental health.
Then show the following video:
Ask young people if they learnt anything new from the video and if they have any questions about it.
Your mental health first aid kit
Explain that just like a medical first aid kit, a mental health first aid kit is a kit that contains tools which can offer you ways to support your overall mental wellbeing that you can turn to when needed. It is important to note it is solely unique to you. Say that we are going to make our own mental health first aid kits now, by looking at what is required for your very own kit, what resources you can add, three DIY activities for your kit and what else you can do to help you and your mental health. You know your own mental health more than anyone so feel free to add or switch up as much as you like to make your mental health first aid kit your own.
Decorating your first aid kit
Explain that the first step in making your very own first aid kit is decorating it to your taste. Decorate the outside of your shoebox with paint or colouring pens/pencils (you can do this on paper and stick it to your shoebox). You can draw/paint positive images on your first aid kit and even write quotes or text. If you have ribbons or scrap fabric you can stick these on too. Remember it is solely a first aid kit meant for you so use your imagination to your heart’s content and express yourself through the colours on your box whichever way you’d like!
What to include in your first aid kit
Once some young people have finished their decorating, or once there is 30-40 minutes left, say it is time to make things to go inside their kits (they can come back to decorating after if needed). Explain that what you include in your kit can vary between person to person. Write down the following options on a flipchart and ask for ideas about specifics (e.g what feelings for the feelings chart, what you might want to include to colour etc):
- a feelings chart, to recognise and identify how you’re feeling each time you open your kit (you can find some examples online to print or show them on the screen)
- colouring pages of items or of things you like and bring you happiness. You can colour these to have a mindful moment or to have fun
- write down affirmations and/or positive quotes which can uplift you every time you open your kit or maybe you can include quotes on the outside of your kit too
- Some lined paper and pens can be included for when you want to write down how you’re feeling or get something off your mind
- a written list of a few of your favourite songs and when discovering a title of a song within your kit, play it and dance to it to lift your spirits
- a stress ball (we will learn to make this together)
- a glitter jar (we will learn to make this together)
- the hand of gratitude (we will learn to make this together)
Remind young people that this is their very own first aid kit unique to them and they can include anything which makes them happy and positively improves their overall mental health. Ask if they have any other ideas and add these to the list.
See below instructions for making some items they can add in to their kits. You could run these as carousel activities or activities young people choose from if you have enough leaders. If not, you can run them with the whole group.
Activity 1: A stress ball
You will need: a balloon, rice and funnel.
Step 1: Place the bottom of the balloon onto the end of the funnel.
Step 2: Pour some rice through the funnel into the balloon. Keep going until the balloon is not too full so you can tie the balloon.
Step 3: Tie the balloon and squeeze.
You now have your very own homemade stress ball.
Activity 2: A glitter jar
You will need: A jar, glitter, pva glue and water.
Step 1: Fill the jar halfway with water.
Step 2: Add the glue to the water.
Step 3: Place the lid on the jar securely, and shake!
Step 4: Remove the lid and add your glitter.
Step 5: Replace the lid and secure firmly.
Activity 3: The hand of gratitude
You will need: Paper, colouring pens/markers/pencils, scissors.
Step 1: Place your hand onto a piece of paper, spreading your fingers out.
Step 2: Take a pen and trace your hand onto the paper in between your fingers and around your palm.
Step 3: Colour and decorate your hand.
Step 4: Write down 5 things you’re grateful for, enjoy doing or simply just like.
Step 5: Cut out your hand and put it into or on your kit.
If there is time, or next session, allow young people to make more things from the list or from their own ideas to add to their kit.
Caution: be aware that this activity could bring up issues with young people’s mental health. Be clear that if they are ever struggling they should reach out to a trusted adult who can help. Here are links to resources and websites who can also help:
Camhs
Samaritans UK
Support Line