Bridge to Balance is happy to offer a number of services to the community. One of these services is school assemblies, which we provide to raise awareness of mental health issues. These assemblies are specifically designed to help youth develop a greater understanding of mental health. Learn more about this service offering below.
Topics We Cover
Ultimately, we hope to help school-aged youth become more aware of mental health. This can include educating them about mental illness, teaching them strategies for staying mentally healthy, and helping them to develop skills such as empathy and kindness.
Because our focus is so broad, we are willing to cover any type of topic related to mental health. If you have ideas for an assembly topic, we are happy to work with you to develop a presentation that will meet the needs of your school community.
Some examples of topics we could cover include:
- How to be kind to others.
- What it means to be respectful.
- The meaning of empathy and how to build it.
- What mental health means.
- Strategies for managing mental health.
- Stress-reduction techniques.
- How to ask for help when you need it.
- Noticing signs of mental health struggles in a peer.
- Identifying and understanding emotions.
- Ways for coping with frustration.
Recent Assemblies
This certainly isn’t the only topic we offer, but a recent program we delivered within the schools was titled, “Respect, Empathy, & Kindness: Building a Better World Together.” During this assembly, we discussed the topics of respect and empathy for others, and taught skills related to kindness. We also brought our therapy dogs to the presentation to increase student interest and demonstrate how animals can reinforce these skills.
The Benefits Of Mental Health Awareness
One recent survey of educators and administrators revealed that 93% have a high degree of concern for student mental health. Their top concerns are in the areas of behavioral management, mental health disorders, and social skills.
It’s clear that school systems have a need for mental health awareness training. By teaching skills like empathy and kindness, we can help students to develop better social skills. Awareness of mental health issues will also increase the likelihood that students will reach out for help when they’re struggling.
Furthermore, researchers have found that social/emotional learning programs have numerous benefits for children. They can improve confidence and school engagement among students, and improve behaviors. Based upon these benefits, a mental health assembly will set the stage for better student behavior, as well as increased psychological well-being.
Bridge to Balance offers mental health services for children, adults, and families in the New Jersey area. In addition to assemblies, we offer play therapy, groups for youth, and school-based services. Visit our webpage today to learn more, or contact us to discuss your needs related to school assemblies.
Sources:
2)https://www.jstor.org/stable/44219019