This professional learning resource was developed by Bankstown & Liverpool Hospital Schools. The Australian Government gave New South Wales (NSW) Schools for Specific Purposes (SSP's) as centres of expertise, special funding to develop a professional learning resource for teachers in every school. These projects will support all teachers in implementing the Public Schools NSW Every Student Every School initiative and will assist teachers in every school to meet the individual learning needs of every student.
Why Mental Health? There has been an increase in the number of children and young people experiencing mental health issues. Many of the hospital admissions for what may appear to be a mental health diagnosis are not, but are actually difficulties with relationships or the breakdown of relationships. Schools and teachers need to be proactive in teaching children and adolescents how to develop and to maintain positive mental health and how to build positive relationships. They also need to understand and to more effectively support those students at risk of or those diagnosed with a mental illness.
Teachers Need to be Proactive for Every Student in every class they teach in Every School. There are some wonderful programs running in schools. We've tried to include things that work for students and that guidance officers and teachers and have found to work.. We hope you'll take at least one idea or strategy to try every day.Try something from positive psychology such as gratitude, exercise the mood or other strategies you've explored here. Have students try the Signature Strengths online survey and have them discuss their strengths with others and areas they could develop further.