ASDAN has created a free emotional wellbeing bundle of resources in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. Running from 15 to 21 May, the official theme for this year’s event is anxiety. Taken from selected ASDAN courses, we have created five resources to encourage young people to explore their emotions, develop positive behaviours and foster positive emotional wellbeing.
Our free wellbeing resource bundle includes fun and practical challenges designed to:
- Support learners to identify and nurture respectful relationships
- Encourage learners to talk about their feelings
- Develop strategies for managing their emotions
The resources include session plans, activity ideas and worksheets to support lessons around mental health and emotional wellbeing. Activities include a mental health checklist, a stress management tool and a positive behaviour planner.
The free wellbeing resource bundle incorporates resource activities from ASDAN’s PSHE Short Course and Moving On. Currently in the pilot phase and due for roll out in early 2024, Moving On will equip young people aged 16+ with the knowledge and skills they need to live independently.
We have also included a number of resources from My Independence, ASDAN’s suite of four certificated programmes for learners with a range of special educational needs. Statistics published by the Mental Health Health Foundation highlight the high proportion of mental health problems among people with SEND, often undiagnosed and mistaken as a symptom of their learning disability. Reflecting on this correlation, we designed My Independence with a keen focus on mental health wellbeing for learners with SEND.
Phil Bruton is the Nuture Leader at New Barn School in West Sussex, catering for pupils with autism aged between 7-18 years. He recently told us about the positive impact of the wellbeing activities in ASDAN’s My Independence programmes.
“The students’ parents have definitely noticed that their children have become much more socially active since taking part in My Independence,” says Phil.
“A year ago, one student’s friend left our school, and he found it really hard to keep regulated when that friendship ended. My Independence activities really helped with this.
“Since working through these activities, he’s able to go out and engage with people and talk through his feelings. He’s much more resilient and knowledgeable about ways of keeping happy. He’s always outside at playtime and has five or six friends he can rely on and now loves being in school.
“My Independence activities are good for students’ mental health and helping them to be aware of how to be socially active.”
More free activities
We started the new year by sharing a free wellbeing planner from the Moving On course. It’s a great way to schedule activities to boost young people’s emotional state, read the blog to find out more and download the resource.
Support for mental health
Mind is a national charity providing services to reduce poor mental health. If you or someone you know would like support, you can contact Mind’s confidential free helpline to talk and seek advice.