September was designated National Suicide Prevention Month, in part to help de-stigmatize discussing suicide and mental illness and to promote mental health strategies that help people not just live but live happier lives. Educators at school and at home can learn and teach about these important topics in free PD and multimedia instructional resources for grades Pre-K-12 in PBS LearningMedia.
Here are just a few of those resources:
JR Martinez Feelings | Sesame Street
Suggested grades PreK-K
JR Martinez and Elmo talk about how to deal with tough feelings, like anger or sadness. Here are some exercises and tips for dealing with strong emotions.
Mad Feelings | Daniel Tiger Life’s Little Lessons
Suggested grades PreK-5
In this video, Daniel Tiger and his friends sing a song about conquering anger by counting to four. They find that getting mad when things go wrong is normal, but when you get mad, stop, count to four, and then you’ll be able to reflect and come up with a solution to the problem. From the collection Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, which includes Managing and Expressing Feelings.
Video 1: Welcome to AIM! | ARTHUR Social, Emotional, and Character Development Curriculum
Suggested grades K-5
Get an overview of the AIM Buddy Project from teachers who have used AIM in their classrooms. Learn about the program’s background, benefits, and components, as well as the five AIM topics: empathy, forgiveness, generosity, honesty, and learning from others. This resource is part of The AIM Buddy Project | An ARTHUR Social, Emotional, and Character Development Curriculum.
App Connects Troubled Teens With Support | You Are Not Alone
Suggested grades 6-12
Siblings Hannah and Charlie Lucas developed a smartphone app to give people with mental health challenges a quick way to connect with trusted contacts in times of crisis. The notOK app serves as a digital panic button that enables people to contact a pre-selected list of five trusted contacts at any time. This segment is part of You Are Not Alone, a youth mental health series produced by KET. Support materials such as discussion questions are included.
Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.
Introduction | Not Broken
Suggested grades 9-12
This introduction from Not Broken addresses the youth mental health epidemic on the rise throughout the United States in both rural and urban settings. Includes many support materials for educators and students.
This video segment is part of Not Broken, a candid and hopeful documentary about seven young people fighting to live their dreams despite their mental health challenges, produced by Arizona Public Media.
Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.
Suicide Prevention: How Can Schools Help? | Above the Noise
Suggested grades 6-12
No one wants to talk about it, but suicide is a leading cause of death among teens. The good news is, schools are uniquely positioned to help. Student reporters from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs investigate what schools can do. Have your students watch the video and respond to the question in KQED Learn.
Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.
How to be an Ally | Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators
For educators
Meet Nala Simone Toussaint and learn about what it takes to be a successful ally to LGBTQ+ youth in this video from First Person. Contains educator support materials. For more resources like this, see the rest of the Understanding LGBTQ+ Identity: A Toolkit for Educators collection.
Positive Behavior in Schools III: Bullying Prevention Course
For educators
This two-hour self-paced course meets the training Kentucky requirement for teachers and other school personnel pursuant to 704 KAR 7:160, “Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion in Public Schools”. There are two self-paced modules in this course. Each module features authentic classroom video highlighting best practices and methods. At the end of this course, learners earn a certificate of completion for two hours of PD and EILA Credit.
Racial Trauma | Social and Emotional Learning: The Arts for Every Classroom
For educators
Research has found that people who experience the insults of racism can develop symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, such as hypervigilance. Dr. Steven D. Kniffley, a psychologist and chief diversity officer at Spalding University in Louisville, describes the types of racial trauma, including microaggressions, and how they impact people psychologically. Spalding’s Collective Care Center provides therapy specifically for racial trauma. Contains support materials.
For even more resources, visit our curated folder. Have questions or need assistance? Contact your KET Education Consultant! We love helping educators and students!