Children and young people told us they wanted to learn more about their mental health before they had issues, as highlighted in this short film made by the Future in Mind Leeds Involvement Panel:
We responded to this need by creating the MindMate Lessons teaching resource, an emotional literacy curriculum designed to support class-based discussions and learning around mental health and wellbeing. The lessons are written by a range of teachers, mental health professionals and consultants in partnership with other services and groups. They are designed to fit into your Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) curriculum, in a modern, engaging and evidence-based manner, as part of the MindMate Champions whole school approach.
When designing the curriculum, we prioritised key skills (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills), as well as ensuring the format was easy to deliver and tailor to your classes. The MindMates take you through PowerPoint lessons full of multimedia content, for easy teaching. The lessons contain:
- Multimedia content within Microsoft PowerPoint presentations;
- Evidence based skills;
- Whole class, group and paired activities to stimulate discussion and develop social skills;
- Editable Microsoft PowerPoint Lessons and Word Lesson Plans;
- Useful Self Help Links.
You can filter by year group, and download the PowerPoint lessons, lesson plans and resources for each lesson in one handy zipfile. You can also access MindMate assemblies/introductory lessons for KS1 - KS4/5.
If you have any feedback, please send your thoughts, reviews and requests to schoolwellbeing@leeds.gov.uk, we’d love to hear from you! We will add additions, improvements and amendments, so please check back regularly for latest versions.
In addition to the lessons themselves, we have created a range of resources to support you. They can be found on the Guidance and Process Documents page and include: essential guidance, schemes of work, letters to parents explaining what the lessons are and a parents’ evening on exam stress, as well as additional documents on such topics as self-harm and body image. Please note, you can only view this page once you have registered and logged in.
Parents Evening
Assembly/Introductory
Feeling good and being me
This theme establishes a foundation for the subsequent themes. It begins by building an understanding of comfortable and uncomfortable feelings, along with personal strengths and self-awareness. Lessons then introduce concepts like resilience, self-esteem, and future aspirations. Key skills developed in this theme include goal-setting and using a solution-focused approach to achieve personal targets.
Friends and family
This theme focuses on understanding relationships, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy ones, and knowing how to end relationships that are unhealthy. Lessons guide pupils in identifying qualities they appreciate in themselves, communicating effectively about relationship challenges, and offering support to others. Key skills include self-awareness, problem-solving in relationships, and empathetic support.
Life changes
This theme addresses the concept of change and the complex emotions it can bring. It covers topics such as loss and bereavement, as well as the natural evolution of friendships over time. For Years 6 and 11, there is a focus on navigating key transitions, including the move from primary to secondary school and beyond. Key skills developed in this theme include acceptance of these emotions and strategies for adapting well to change.
Strong emotions
This theme provides an opportunity to focus on intense emotions such as anger, stress, and sadness. For Years 6 and 11, the emotion of happiness is also explored to support them through transitional periods. Key skills developed in this theme include recognising and understanding these emotions, identifying their physical signs and understanding their effects on behaviour and relationships. Pupils will also learn and apply strategies for managing uncomfortable feelings, enabling them to support both themselves and their peers.
Being the same and being different
Beginning with the essential principle that everyone is unique and deserving of respect, this theme explores the rich diversity within our society and the importance of embracing and celebrating differences. Pupils gain insight into the harmful effects of stereotyping and discrimination on mental health, fostering a deeper understanding of these issues. Key skills developed in these lessons include cultivating comfort with diversity and effectively challenging disrespectful and discriminatory behaviors, empowering pupils to advocate for inclusivity and respect in their communities.
Solving problems (and making it better)
The final theme builds on previous ones, bringing together key learning to help pupils navigate challenging times. In KS1 and KS2, this includes skills like perseverance and open communication. By upper KS3 and KS4, students learn ways to manage exam stress and gain awareness of essential talking therapies. Key skills in this theme include reframing situations positively, understanding available coping strategies, and supporting others in managing difficulties.
Focus modules
These are additional lessons which explore some of the lesson topics in more depth. They can used with a whole class or with targeted groups of pupils. Examples of the topics covered are Mindfulness and Unsafe relationships and the impact on mental health.