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Making Sense of Mental Health: Past and Present. Story and Research Project.

The resource is a lesson plan that uses a story about a girl with mental illness. Students read the story, read informational text resources concerning perceptions of mental illness in the past, and then research a chosen mental illness in groups. Students publish their research on a poster and present it to the class. This three day lesson incorporates a story, The Yellow Wallpaper, as part of a theme on mental illness. This lesson provides students an opportunity to work in groups to research a mental illness and then present findings through a poster presentation. This lesson includes other resources, including primary sources regarding women's mental health from the 19th century and handouts to be used with this project. This lesson incorporates science and history and is sometimes taught in American literature.

Weblink address (URL): 
Making Sense of Mental Health: Past and Present. Story and Research Project.

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

students will be able to:

  • describe common symptoms of depression and several other mental health disorders.
  • identify possible causes and available treatments for depression and other mental disorders.
  • locate resources in one’s community and on the Internet for information and services regarding prevention strategies for depression and other mental health disorders.
  • evaluate criteria for reliability of health information web sites.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 
  • If possible, invite a guest speaker who is a mental health professional from a local organization to talk about and discuss mental health conditions and resources. For example, the Mental Illness Needs Discussion Sessions (MINDS) organization is an awareness program that aims at educating young people about mental illness. MINDS conducts free seminars in high schools throughout Michigan. During each seminar the students are given two brochures. One brochure describes the symptoms of mental illness, while the other provides a guide to local, state and national help lines, referral agencies, organizations and other services. (http://www.mindsprogram.org/)
  • Assign students an independent project to explore and write a report about a medical and scientific career that specializes in mental health research and treatments. Have students use the list of mental health career and professional organizations on “Other Resources” and include at least one interview of a local health professional or an organizational profile.

Helpful Hints

other materials and set-ups:

  • flip chart, overhead projector and transparency, or smart board
  • highlighter, pen or pencil
  • computers with the Internet access for Class 2

References

Contributors: 
Julie Lewis
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation