our minds matter

  • Identify behaviors/coping tools that can help when struggling
  • Learn about mental health resources available in your schools
  • Identify people you can turn to for support in your communities

  • Note: We recommend having a mental health professional facilitate this activity.
  • Club leaders should distribute printed self-care cards to each club member.
  • Have the facilitator read the following:
    • Before we begin this activity, I’d like to give a general trigger warning. In processing what we may need to help take better care of ourselves, some difficult or painful feelings might arise. If at any time you feel like you may need additional support, please alert [self or another adult].
    • Take 5 breaths. Inhale through the nose and exhale through your mouth. Now close your eyes or soften your gaze. I want you to bring
      • Your most significant stressors in life right now to mind, [take a pause]
      • Your stressors could be school, family, your mental health, tests, a relationship  [take a pause]
      • Do your stressors ever impact your day-to-day?  [take a pause]
    • What did you do to ease your stress? Or to cope with the negative things in your life? [take a pause]
    • Would you consider the actions/behaviors you took to cope healthy?
      • If not, think of something you could’ve done that would have been better for you to relieve that stress.  [take a pause]
    • Now, still reflect on those stressors but this time I want you to recall who you reached out to for help?  [pause]
    • Do you know the people you can go to when you’re struggling? 
      • Bring their faces and names to mind. [pause]
    • If you don’t know who to go to, imagine the characteristics of someone you would trust or want to confide in. [pause]
    • Open your eyes or bring your attention back into the room. [pause]
    • Each person here today experiences different stressors in life varying in severity. Some stressors can impact your day-to-day, while some stressors can be motivating. Identifying positive ways to cope and people to reach out to is something we can all do to maintain the best well-being possible.
    • In front of you, you will find some self-care cards. What I want you to do now, is write down those things you identified as positive behaviors that you can do when you are struggling.
      • Consider giving your own examples: playing with your dog, exercising, laying down in a dark room in silence etc.
        • [Pause and allow students 10 minutes to fill out the front of their card before continuing to the next statement]
    • Now, flip to the back of your card. Remember those people you envisioned that could support you in times of stress? I want you to write the names or characteristics of those people on the card.
      • Consider giving your own examples: close friends, grandparents, people who practice active listening etc.
        • [Pause and allow students 10 minutes to fill out the back of their card before continuing to the next statement]
    • If you couldn’t imagine or didn’t know who you can reach out to, you will notice a phone number and text line that is a resource anyone can use at any time.
    • [Mention specific school psychologists, counselors, and social workers that are available at your school]
    • You can also visit ourmindsmatter.org/resources to learn more about identity-specific resources, such as resources for LGBTQ+ youth or BIPOC youth.

  • Consider having other members share out what or who they identified if they are comfortable.
  • Was it hard to think of positive coping skills?

  • This activity could be presented as a larger assembly with the proper planning! First, work with your club sponsor and principal to identify a date and time for the assembly.
  • Work with your club sponsor and/or school counselors, psychologists or other mental health professionals to prepare resources that will be shared with students. Consider putting together a powerpoint with these resources, or some facts about teen stress.
    • TIP: Write a run-of-show so that all assembly participants are on the same page (be sure to include arrival time!)
  • Consider making flyers or posters to promote the assembly. 
    • TIP: Double-check with your administration team on acceptable places in the building to hang your flyers!

Printed Self-Care Cards

  • Consider having your Club Sponsor or another mental health professional in your school give a small presentation of available resources such as counselor office hours or self-referral forms and the referral process.
  • Make sure to secure all necessary hall passes for any students participating in the assembly, should it cut into instructional time.
  • Don’t forget to promote your club at the end of the assembly! Your club could potentially be another place of support for a student in the audience – make sure they know when and where your club meets.