Pornography & Mental Health

What impact does it have on mental health? On body image? On levels of attainment? On relationships? What are the signs and symptoms of overuse? How can a user cut back? What alternative activities can help a user be more successful? No pornography is shown in this diversity friendly lesson.

”Of all activities on the internet, porn has the most potential to become addictive” say Dutch neuroscientists [Meerkerk et al, 2006].

The Reward Foundation is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners to run training on the impact of Internet pornography on mental and physical health. Internet pornography is increasingly being recognised by experts as a contributory factor in mental health problems among young people today.

This fully resourced lesson runs as a teacher-led class using the slides. There are opportunities for discussion in pairs, small groups and for feedback as a class. The Teacher’s Guide provides you with all the information you need to deliver the lesson confidently. There are links to research papers where appropriate.

Pornography & Mental Health is the third of our five lessons on Internet Pornography. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or after Pornography on Trial and Love, Pornography and Relationships. Other lesson in the series are Pornography and the Adolescent Brain and The Great Porn Experiment. This lesson is aimed at 15-18 year olds.

The Reward Foundation has worked with a range of experts including more than 20 teachers, many experienced in developing training materials for schools, youth and community leaders, psychiatrists, doctors, psychologists and many parents. We have piloted the lessons in schools across the UK.

Resources: 16-slide PowerPoint (.pptx) and a 19-page Teacher’s Guide (.pdf). There are hot links to relevant research and further resources.