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Schools HubMental health Five-a-day for mental health
Five a day for mental health

There are five things we can do each day to look after our mental health; connect with others, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. These resources will support your class to apply the five-a-day into their everyday routine.

Learning intentions

  • Explore the five-a-day for mental health
  • Apply the five-a-day for mental health in a young person’s routine.
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Level

Junior and senior cycle

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Duration

30 minutes

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Modules

My mental health
Defining mental health

Five a day for your mental health

Play

Five-a-day for mental health is based on the 'Five ways to Wellbeing' report 2008, by the New Economics Foundation (NEF).
Use the video in class to illustrate the NEF's recommendations of '5-a-day for your mental health'.

Activity

5-a-day planner

Following on from the video, break the class into five groups. Assign each group one of the 5-a-day themes, asking them to brainstorm activities for each of the five themes.
 
After brainstorming, ask each group to present their ideas to the rest of the class.
 
Download and print the 5-a-day planner as a guide.

Download
Further reading for your students
a collection of workout accessories, bottle of water, apple, ipod, headphones, running shoes

Exercise and mental health
We all know that exercise is good for our mental health. Here a Jigsaw Clinician talks about why it can help and ways to incorporate it into our lives.
a person holding a phone

Online mental health support
Services are offering alternatives through phone, text and video-based online mental health support. Read strengths and limitations of each.
Close up of a young man looking into the distance

When do I need to get help for my mental health?
There are many different types of support out there to help us look after mental health. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.