World Mental Health Day 2025
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’.
As students continue to face growing pressures, academically, socially, and emotionally, we’re reminded how vital it is that all young people have access to consistent, high-quality mental wellbeing support and education in school.
At BrainWaves, our mission is to make this support both accessible and effective. Our free, evidence-based Wellbeing Curriculum provides a series of lessons that equip students with practical strategies to manage their mental wellbeing. Best of all, these oven-ready lessons are designed to fit seamlessly into your PSHE planning.
Key wellbeing lessons for Mental Health Week
The following lessons can be used at any stage across Key Stage 3, or with students aged 11-14 years and can be used to help students understand what impacts their wellbeing, as well as ways in which they can change their behaviours for better wellbeing.
- Managing Worry: Learn a variety of techniques to tackle everyday worries.
- Challenging Negative Thoughts: Discover strategies to transform unhelpful thinking patterns.
- Sleep, Screens, and Mood: Understand how use of screens and bedtime routines impact mood, wellbeing, and sleep quality.
- Social Media Social Media and The Dangers of Perfection: Explore how social media affects our sense of self and how to navigate it positively.
- Helping Others for Better Wellbeing: Engage in activities that highlight the power of kindness and altruism.
- Making Change Happen: Empower students with tools to make lasting, positive changes in their lives.
These lessons are tailored to help students understand their emotions, reflect on their experiences, and develop a stronger sense of agency over their mental health, all in an age-appropriate, evidence-based format.
Join our free webinar
To support your school further in supporting wellbeing in your school, we’re hosting a free CPD webinar for educators: “Unlocking wellbeing: The power of creativity on young people’s mental health and wellbeing”.
In this session, we’ll explain about ‘creative health’ and how the use of creative and cultural activities can be used in secondary schools to support adolescent wellbeing. Professor Neil Humphrey will talk about the research he has conducted with the Factory International Schools Programme and the outcomes it has had on the young people involved.
Become a BrainWaves Research Partner
Working alongside the University of Oxford, our Research Partners are helping to shape the future of mental health education. By joining us, you’ll be contributing to one of the UK’s largest studies into adolescent wellbeing and helping us build a better understanding of what young people need to thrive.
We’re currently inviting UK-based schools and colleges with 16+ provision to join this vital work!
If you’re interested in bringing BrainWaves to your school or college, or becoming a Research Partner, get in touch with our team at support@brainwaveshub.org.uk.
Together, let’s change the story on youth mental health, starting in the classroom!
About the author
Abbie Simpkin is a School Research Liaison Manager at BrainWaves, responsible for supporting schools on the BrainWaves Research Programme. She was previously a music teacher at Key Stage 3-5.