Listenwise Teaching Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month 

Educators recognize the need to have conversations about mental health with their students, yet many struggle to find appropriate resources. First person accounts like those found on Listenwise can be a particularly powerful teaching tool when trying to foster a supportive environment where students feel heard, understood, and equipped with the tools to navigate life’s challenges. 

By using Listenwise teaching resources for Mental Health Awareness Month, educators can spark dialogue, challenge stigma, and foster a culture of empathy and support within their classrooms, while also building language and literacy skills.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the myriad ways in which podcasts can serve as a dynamic tool for educators to engage students in meaningful discussions about mental wellness. 

Why It Matters: K-12 Statistics About Mental Health

• Nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder (2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report [NIH]).
• In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021).
• In 2021, more than 1 in 5 (22%) students seriously considered attempting suicide and 1 in 10 (10%) attempted suicide (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021).
  • Nearly half (45%) of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered attempting suicide—far more than heterosexual students.
  • Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities.
• 22% of children living below 100% of the poverty threshold had a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. Age and poverty level affects the likelihood of children receiving treatment for anxiety, depression, or behavior problems (2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report [NIH]).

Teaching Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month

Depression and Trauma

• Sharing Feelings Helps Depression
• The Importance of Human Connection
• 13 Reasons Why Not
• Post Traumatic Growth
• Screening for Teen Depression
• The Power of Joy

Stress and Anxiety

• All About Anxiety
• The Ups and Downs of Anxiety
• Teens and Stress
• Stress at the Olympics
• “Guts” and Stress Relief
• Beating Stress and Burnout
• Parks Can Improve Your Mental Health

Body Image Issues

• Embracing Positive Body Image
• Overcoming an Eating Disorder
• Debate: Should Social Media Be Regulated?
• Debate: Are AI Beauty Filters Harmful?

Social Media and Mental Health

• Debate: Is Social Media Bad for Mental Health?
• Debate: Can Social Media Cause Depression?
• Debate: Should Teens’ Social Media Time Be Limited?
• Creating Community Through Social Media Affirmations
• Teen Girls and Positive Social Media Messages

Bullying

• A Positive Response to Bullying (also available in ELD)
• Debate: Should Social Media Do More to Stop Bullying?
• Portrait of a Bully
• Psychology of a Bully
• Looking Back on Bullying

Listenwise Collections to Support Mental Health Awareness

SEL (Elementary)

SEL (ELD)

SEL (Middle School)

SEL (High School)

Perseverance (Middle School)

The Human Connection

Check Out Our Other Blog Post: “Ideas for Building SEL Skills With English Learners Using Listenwise Lessons”