Using animation for mental health and well-being

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, school clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 PSHE (life skills, critical thinking)

• What’s Up With Everyone? is a campaign run in conjunction with Aardman, research teams from various universities, and clinical and charitable partners to provide support for mental health literacy among young people. They believe that by sharing ideas relating to mental health and well-being in an engaging and popular format, animations can make a positive difference to the lives of young people. What do you and your students think?

• This resource links to the UK Government’s statutory guidance in a document entitled Relationships, Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education:

Pupils should be supported to recognise what makes them feel lonely. Self-focused or isolating lifestyle choices can lead to unhappiness and being disconnected from society for those who have greater need for companionship and relationships.

The internet and social media have important characteristics which young people should be aware of in order to help them use them discriminatingly. Secondary school pupils should know the similarities and differences between the online world and the physical world, and how to identify harmful behaviours online (including bullying, abuse or harassment) and how to report, or find support, if they have been affected by those behaviours.

Pupils should be taught how to judge when they, or someone they know, needs support and where they can seek help if they have concerns. This should include details on which adults in school and externally can help.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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