Mental Health

Health and Personal Development Stage 5: Understanding Mental Health
Friday, October 24, 2008

Syllabus Objectives:
Strand 3: Individual and Community Health
Outcome 5.6 A students analyses attitudes, behaviours and consequences related to health issues effecting young people.

Students Lean About:
· Mental Health
- Understanding mental health

Students Learn To:
· Challenge negative community perceptions of mental health and identify reasons why these have developed

Skill Outcome:
5.11 Adapts and evaluates communication skills and strategies to justify opinions, ideas and feelings in increasingly complex situations
5.16 Predicts potential problems and develops, justifies and evaluates solutions.

KLA Integration:
To develop a classroom environment were students feel safe and are encouraged to express their ideas and opinions are linked to civics and citizenship. Civics and citizenship involves students “clarifying personal values related to discrimination and develop a respect for the rights and dignity of all people and a commitment to social justice” (NSW Board of Studies, 2003). In this task mental health will be considered a social justice issue as people in society with mental illness are considered vulnerable and sometimes do not have the cognitive skills or finances to seek the assistance they require.

Scope of Task:
1. Research three definitions of mental health, using three different sources. Sources may include the internet, a dictionary, magazine or any other source.

2. Compare and contrast the three definitions of mental health
Note: how the definitions are different, this may be due to mental health incorporating numerous diseases and psychological disorders.

3. Develop your own definition for mental health.

4. Create a mind map titled “Mental Health”. Recall all information you already known about mental health.
Note: Information may include any organization that offers assistance such as
“Beyond Blue” or celebrities that have admitted to a mental illness for example
Heath Ledger.

5. Listen to the lyrics of the Pearl Jam song “Jeremy”.

6. Read the newspaper article associated with the death of Jeremy Wade Delle in 1991.

7. Complete the discussion question on Jeremy’s mental health.

8. Complete the discussion concerning the stigma associated with mental health.

Resources:
Song Lyrics of Pearl Jam
Jeremy, Pearl Jam
http://www.metrolyrics.com/jeremy-lyrics-pearl-jam.html


Jeremy Wade Delle Article
Bobbie Miller
http://users.aol.com/pearljam92/rockin/pj/jeremy1.htm


Discussion Questions: Jeremy’s Mental Health
1. Outline the factors that may have contributed to Jeremy’s mental health issues.
- Feelings of isolation
- Moving schools
- Having no friends
- Feeling like he has no one to talk to

2. Explain the individuals that were affected by Jeremy’s death and outline the ways these people were affected.
- His parents, through lose of their son
- Himself, by no longer being alive
- Peers, having witnessed his actions and feeling guilty for not being his friends
- Teacher, having witnessed his actions, feelings of guilt for not noticing his need for help
- Future students of the school having to be being continually reminded of a previous students actions


Class Discussion Questions: Stigma of Mental Health
Is there a stigma attached to having a mental health problem?

List the different terms used to describe an individual with mental a health issues or illness?
- Loser
- Wako
- Drop kick
- Freak
- Mad
- Lunatic

Outline different strategies to combat the stigma associated with mental illness within the community?
- Support friends and families of suffers
- Educate people throughout life about mental illness
- Promote mental health in all stages of life
- Address discrimination in every day life
- Provide high quality support and services
- Treat mental illness like any other illness


Rationale:
This task is designed to provide students with the opportunity to further develop an increased understanding and awareness of the concept of Mental Health. Completion of this task affords students the ability to develop a suitable definition for mental health and understand the consequences and stigmas associated with mental health. Researching the definition of mental health will provide students with an understanding of the extent of mental illness in society. Listening to the recommended song lyrics and linking the content to the newspaper article allows students to determine the possible consequences of untreated mental illness. By students brain storming ideas for reducing the stigma associated with mental health will assist to decrease the fear and uncertainty that relates to mental health issues within the community.

Diverse learners:
This task will cater to the learning needs of all students. The task assists auditory learning by allowing them to listen to lyrics to note the negative outcomes of mental illness. Visual learners are accommodated by inclusion of the newspaper article and mind map creations. Kinesthetic learner needs are also included by the physical movement of tying together the information from the lyrics and the newspaper article to answer the discussion questions.


Reference List
Bobbi Miller. (Unknown). Richardson Teen-Ager Kills Himself in Front of Classmates. Accessed on October 24th 2008. Accessed at http://users.aol.com/pearljam92/rockin/pj/jeremy1.htm

Metro Lyrics. (2004). Pearl Jam Jeremy Lryics. Accessed on October 24th 2008. Accessed at http://www.metrolyrics.com/jeremy-lyrics-pearl-jam.html

NSW Board of Studies. (2003). Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Years 7-10 Syllabus. Board of Studies NSW: Sydney