Notes To Self: A film and teaching pack
The 'Notes to Self' film seeks to challenge the myths and misinformation surrounding mental health and well-being. It also stresses the importance of early intervention by professionals when young people are having difficulties, and to this end contains scenarios in which we see young people talking to real-life well-being professionals. The film poses the questions: when do the everyday stresses and ups and downs of teenage behaviour become a mental health issue? How do you keep yourself mentally well? How can you help a friend in need?
'Notes to Self' aims to equip young people with strategies to help keep themselves emotionally healthy, to guide them on seeking help and supporting others, and encourage them to challenge stigma around mental health issues.
Synopsis
The drama begins with a student production team who are tasked with making a film about mental well-being – in only 24 hours! The film-within-a-film they deliver is an emotional story about a popular member of the class who cannot voice his deepest anxieties. Post-it notes appear expressing his fears. Things come to a head in a remarkable climax at school but he manages to get professional help. The production team share their 'Five Helpful Hints for Well-Being'.
Measuring and monitoring children and young people’s mental well-being toolkit
Children’s mental health charity, Anna Freud, have published a mental health indicators toolkit for schools. This work was commissioned by PHE and will be of interest to senior leadership teams and those with particular responsibilities for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), inclusion, Personal Social Health and Economic education (PSHE), welfare or pastoral support and mental health support. The toolkit helps schools and colleges think through why and how they might choose to measure student mental well-being. It also advises on how schools can make use of a range of validated survey questions and instruments that can help them to do this.
Topic Areas: Anxiety, depression, academic pressure, alcohol and drugs (discreet reference), support from friends, adults and professionals, helpful well-being tips, recognising symptoms, when to seek professional help, and visiting a health professional.
Top Tips
Sallyann Sutton says:
“The room generally goes into absolute silence whilst the film plays. Comments always include how powerful it is, how informative, how much it leaves food for thought. There is certainly a buzz in the room afterward.”
- It is important agree some ground rules with young people at the beginning of the session and display them in the room. I would be asking young people not to share their own personal information in the sessions. You can draw pupils back to the ground rules if they start to make personal disclosures.
- Mental health can be a sensitive subject and there is a high chance that there will be pupils in your class affected by mental health problems, either themselves, having a parent or other family member with mental health problems or a friend. The sign-posting information in the teaching resource can be printed off to give to pupils, providing them with information on sources of help should they want further support or advice.
- The film is divided into sections, this allows you to show the drama all the way through but then go back and access short clips. This is ideal when you want to revisit specific areas such as ‘five helpful hints to well-being for teenagers.’
- This resource provides schemes of work in 3 themes areas and has links to other resources. There is clear guidance in the sign-posting and teaching resource on how to use the film in a programme of work so that it is flexible to use in your school.
- If you feel that you would like some more information about mental health and well-being then there are some references for background reading in the sign-posting and teaching resource.
If your school or group need some further support to deliver the resource then contact the Young People’s Health Advisor for Emotional Health: sallyann.sutton@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk. Training or co-facilitating sessions could be an option.
Notes to Self is a Catcher Media presentation for NHS Walsall. Managed by Walsall Council Creative Development Team.
Check out our Further Resources section to see if you can find extra helpful teaching material.
Other related resources (Walsall only)
Team Toolbox
This toolbox provides a sustainable resource to promote ‘social & emotional’ development and physical activity. Team toolbox contains all the equipment you need to run sessions for as few as 3-4 pupils and for larger groups of up to 100. There are 80 activities which can be used in structured sessions, including warm ups, challenge activities, review tasks and feedback activities.
Ideal for use in KS2-4 (ages 8-18 years) PE lessons, PSHE lessons and Curriculum days.
Getting the Lowdown
‘Getting the Lowdown’ is a teaching resource designed to equip teachers and facilitators with the tools they need to effectively educate and engage young people around issues of mental health and emotional well-being.
This resource contains eleven separate lessons (five for Primary School, six for Secondary School) that each feature broadcast standard short films, lessons plans written by a SEAL Coordinator, background reading documents written by health consultants and in-depth materials provided by leading health organisations.
Produced using the latest evidence-based research and having received a very positive external evaluation by independent health consultants, ‘Getting the Lowdown’ is being used by many local authorities across the country to mainstream and sustain services, whilst cutting costs.
Wheel Of Well-being
A DVD resource which is designed as a game show. A character introduces different areas of well-being and then the class teacher can select a variety of creative activities that pupils can work through as a class group or in small groups. It is flexible can be used in short bursts or to fill full lessons. It lends itself to cross curriculum use. The resources was produced after consultation with pupils in a Walsall Primary and Secondary school. It is suitable for KS2 and KS3 and is ideal to support transition.
All the DVD resources above are freely available to staff in Walsall by contacting Sallyann Sutton
The 'Team Toolbox' can be hired free of charge from Sallyann Sutton but staff would first need to have a familiarisation session to use resource. This is usually done by running an INSET session or delivering a session in the school which a teacher supports.
Signposting
Walsall Sign-posting
Independent support services for people who are being abused, have been abused, or have other specific needs.
The Cedar Centre Walsall The Rock Centre, 27-31 Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1TE
info@blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk 01922 649 569
Electric Palace
Specialist centre for young people, providing education, support and youth activities
Blakenall community Centre, Blakenall Row, WS3 1LW 01922 712069GP’s
Your local GP’s offer a free and confidential service.
Walsall integrated Sexual Health (WiSH)
Pleck Road, Walsall, WS2 9ES (opposite main entrance to Walsall Manor Hospital)
To book an appointment or find details of clinic times please visit www.walsallsexualhealth.co.uk or alternatively call: 01922 270400
Teenage Pregnancy Team
Has two main aims to prevent/reduce teenage pregnancy and to support teenage parents and their children.
Phone: 01922 602330 Email: tpt@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk
Offer free condoms, pregnancy testing and general counselling
55 Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2ABOffer Telephone 01922 649000 (24 hours)
Chat Health
A text service that allows you to talk to a School Nurse about your issues. Text 07480 635363
Black Country Impact
Free training and help finding work if you are aged 16-29 and live in the Black Country.
Call 01922 654364 or email bcimpact@walsall.gov.uk Alternatively, you can visit the Impact Hub Walsall which is a drop in service based at St. Pauls Crossing, Unit 3, Darwall Street WS1 1DA.
The Hub is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm
