Online resource helps teachers support student mental health

Teachers will be able to use a new online resource to help educate students about mental health and wellbeing.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has worked with mental health experts to develop the new ‘Curriculum Connection’ resource.

This means teachers will now be better equipped to teach about mental health and wellbeing through the Australian Curriculum learning areas including Health and Physical Education, Digital Technologies, English, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), and the Arts.

“The past few years have been challenging for everyone and particularly for young people, with fires, floods and the pandemic,” said David de Carvalho, CEO at ACARA. 

“In addition, the widespread of use of so-called ‘smartphones’ among young people has its downsides, contributing to cyber-bullying and social-media-induced anxiety about self-image, particularly among teenage girls.

“So, it’s important now more than ever before that we equip our teachers with the resources they need to teach mental health and wellbeing using the new Australian Curriculum, Version 9.0. It will mean our young people can develop the skills they need to look after themselves and each other.”

Developed in partnership with mental health organisations Beyond Blue and Headspace, as well as the National Mental Health Commission, the resource allows educators to filter information and develop educational programs around key issues. This includes learnings around understanding the factors that influence mental health and wellbeing, how to access support, and ways young people can promote positive wellbeing for themselves and others.

The resource aims to equip young Australians with an understanding about the importance of the following:

• connectedness and belonging
• the ability to manage themselves and their interactions with others
• accessing reliable and timely information and services to manage health and safety
• engaging in health-enhancing behaviours such as healthy eating, physical activity and sleep.
   

In addition to the creation of the new Curriculum Connection, ACARA has provided further guidance to teachers with changes to the mental health and wellbeing focus area description and curriculum content, which includes explicit references to grief and loss.

“Be You welcomes the release of ACARA’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Curriculum Connection,” said Geri Sumpter, Head of the Be You, the national mental health and wellbeing initiative for schools and educators led by Beyond Blue.

“The Curriculum Connection provides clear guidance for teachers and school leaders on how to integrate mental health and wellbeing into all aspects of teaching and learning.

“Including wellbeing across all aspects of teaching and learning is such a positive step towards building a mentally healthy education system where students, teachers and communities are supported to achieve their best possible mental health. We hope that teachers and school leaders across Australia find this resource helpful.”

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