20 Innovative Mental Health Awareness Month Activities for Students

Awareness around mental health has evolved significantly over recent years. The stigma around mental health has changed dramatically between now and when I was a child, but there's still more work to be done, especially as it relates to teen mental health. Inside this post, you'll find 20 mental health awareness activities for students!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Although mental health awareness can be addressed any month of the year, this is as good a time as any for students to not only learn about mental health but also to play an active role in raising awareness and reducing the stigma.

I like to get my students directly involved in raising awareness about mental health by implementing project-based learning. 

Project-based learning is a real-world, solutions-based teaching approach where students make an impact on real community issues or topics. 

Students solve a problem, use the community as a resource, develop innovative final products that impact, and share that final product with a relevant audience. 

This blog post, then, is essentially a list of driving question ideas that you and your students can develop project-based learning experiences around.

The overarching theme across every driving question in this post is raising awareness, educating, and reducing the stigma related to mental health issues. 

Every driving question empowers learners to actively work toward positive change in the community, whether that be locally, nationally, or globally. 

Project-based learning allows students the opportunity to learn about mental health on a deeper level, help out in the community, and build essential 21st-century skills in the process. Students build critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, information literacy, research, team-building, and networking skills, among many others.

That's the beauty of project-based learning. Take a peek at 20 Mental Health Awareness Month activities below and copy them directly or use them as inspiration and make them your own!

Get Started with PBL!

Innovative Mental Health Awareness Month Activities for Students

1. How can our advisory class plan and execute a 5k run/walk event to raise awareness and funds for local mental health organizations, emphasizing physical activity as a means to support mental wellness?

2. How can I organize a yoga marathon in the community, partnering with local yoga studios and mental health professionals to provide a day-long event focused on mindfulness and relaxation?

3. How can our team collaborate with community leaders and businesses to host a wellness festival, featuring activities such as fitness classes, meditation sessions, and informational booths on mental health resources?

4. How can I coordinate a charity sports tournament, inviting teams from schools and organizations to compete in various sports while raising funds and awareness for mental health initiatives?

5. How can our class collaborate with trained mental health professionals to plan and host a community-wide "Walk and Talk" event, encouraging participants to stroll through scenic routes while engaging in conversations about mental health?

6. How can my partner and I utilize creative methods such as interactive games and role-playing scenarios to engage participants and facilitate meaningful discussions about mental health during a school-wide mental health fair?

7. How can our homeroom class organize guest speaker sessions featuring individuals with lived experiences of mental illness, mental health professionals, and advocates, as part of a school-wide mental health fair?

8. How can I use technology and multimedia platforms to create virtual booths with interactive digital resources for students and faculty, impacting the school community by fostering engagement and inclusivity?

9. How can I collaborate with individuals who have experienced mental health challenges to develop a series of short films or documentaries aimed at capturing diverse experiences and perspectives?
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10. How can our class organize community screenings and panel discussions as part of a film festival dedicated to showcasing existing films or documentaries on mental health, providing opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and education?

11. How can our group collaborate with local mental health organizations, advocacy groups, and mental health professionals to ensure that their series of short films or documentaries on mental health are accompanied by relevant resources, support services, and opportunities for further engagement?

12. How can our class collaborate with local mental health professionals to understand the distinct stressors and challenges encountered by youth to create and tailor workshop content and strategies to meet their unique needs and experiences?

13. How can I partner with local mental health professionals to design and develop interactive workshop modules that incorporate evidence-based stress management and self-care techniques?

14. How our team students work with school stakeholders to seamlessly incorporate stress management and self-care workshops into both academic and extracurricular programs, fostering a culture of proactive mental wellness and ensuring sustained support for student well-being?
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15. How can students work with elementary school staff to develop engaging mental health lessons for young students, ensuring alignment with educational standards and diverse learning needs, and fostering lifelong mental wellness?

16. How can our class use creative methods like storytelling and art to teach elementary students about emotions and coping skills, encouraging participation and critical thinking, and empowering them to navigate emotions and build resilience?

17. How can our group research and identify local businesses willing to partner in creating a line of mental health-themed products or merchandise that align with the values and mission of supporting mental health causes?

18. How can we, as storytellers, produce a series of podcasts featuring personal narratives of overcoming mental health struggles?

19. How can our team create a mobile app that offers mental health resources and support for teenagers to provide a convenient platform for accessing mental health resources, promoting help-seeking behaviors, and de-stigmatizing mental health challenges?

20. How can our class raise awareness about the importance of self-care and mental wellness by creating an art exhibition that sparks conversations about mental health and fosters empathy?

Which of the the Mental Health Awareness activities for students listed in this blog post would you like your students to do? What are some other ways that you have your students get involved in Mental Health Awareness Month? Let us know in the comments!

Helpful Resources:

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Project-Based Learning Digital Courses:

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