Mental Health Literacy
Contacts
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Student Engagement and Support
What is Mental Health Literacy?
Mental Health Literacy (MHL) helps students understand age-appropriate mental health concepts and challenges, be aware of how stigma affects mental health, seek available resources, and develop coping strategies and healthy routines.
Increasing MHL leads to positive mental health. Students develop skills to regulate their emotions, cope with stressors, and demonstrate behavioral management skills. Students can also increase connection to their school environment, academic functioning, and prosocial behaviors.
Introduction to Mental Health Literacy Professional Development (Video)
Steps to receive a clock hour:
- To earn one free clock hour,
- Once registered in pdEnroller, view the
- After watching the video,
- OSPI will award clock hours monthly.
Introduction to Mental Health Literacy presentation slides [TB1] [TB2]
With the language ※Review the 2025 Mental Health Literacy Guidance, developed to guide the facilitator through the MHL framework, which will help the facilitator create an environment that is conducive to active engagement, peer connection and whole student learning.§
Mental Health Literacy Learning Units & Resources
Mental Health Literacy is rooted in principles that prioritize strength-based, trauma-informed, equity focused practices and social emotional learning. The four mental health literacy learning units, (Mental Health Competency, Mental Health Promotion, Mental Health Stigma, and Mental Health Advocacy and Seeking Help) are core elements of mental health literacy. Within each unit, you will find a lesson plan (geared specifically toward middle or high school) and resources.
- Mental Health Competency
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Mental health competency strives to increase awareness of common mental health conditions and challenges that students may experience. This awareness can help reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior.
Lesson
Understanding Common Mental Health Challenges 9-12
Resources
- has education resources for information on mental health topics, including lesson plans and activities.
- Mental Health Promotion
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Teaching mental health promotion fosters positive mental health and community connection rather than solely focusing on mental health challenges. It integrates SEL skills like emotion regulation and resilience into everyday life, helping students thrive while addressing potential challenges proactively.
Lesson
My Stress Management Plan 6-8
Resources
- Washington SEL Standards, Benchmarks and Indicators -The SEL standards may be used to teach students fundamental skills that are built upon with MHL.
- ?provides free, timely lessons to help K每12 students discuss current issues and build social and emotional skills.
- designed to help clients build coping skills, resilience, and comfort with mental health topics.
- has documented, field-tested, and refined a strategic, collaborative process for schoolwide SEL.
- is a program that can help teens open up, feel heard, and make positive changes in their lives.
- Mental Health Stigma
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Mental Health Stigma provides knowledge about the types of mental health stigma and how stigma impacts students＊ individuality and community. Below are resources that provide strategies to challenge stigma and promote acceptance through attitude, language and action.
Lesson
Breaking the Stigma 9-12
Resources
- offers resources and information on mental health stigma.?
- Mental Health Advocacy and Seeking Help
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Mental Health Advocacy empowers students to support their own mental well-being and ensure they know how to access resources and care when needed. Educating on advocacy and seeking help will normalize mental health conversations and promote early intervention.
Lesson
Seeking Help 6-8
Resources
- 每 Building Your Mental Health Literacy?
WA State Mental Health Help Seeking Resources
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Resouces
- OSPI MHL Guidance, Briefs, and FAQ
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Briefs
- Additional Resources
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- Mental Health Instruction
- has education resources on mental health comprehension, and common mental health challenges and disorders.??
- Downloadable Infographics
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