Mental Health: Practical Support for Effective Teaching and Learning with Pupils aged 11-18

This book presents a practical and compassionate guide to embedding mental health into school life. It explores how mental health education can be integrated across the curriculum, tutor time and pastoral care, offering age- and stage-appropriate strategies that invite self-awareness and emotional literacy.

Drawing on evidence-based approaches and psychological research, it equips teachers with tools to create safe, inclusive spaces where pupils feel heard and supported. Topics include understanding adolescent brain development, needs-led education, working ‘upstream’ and using language sensitively. The suite of detailed, inclusive and progressive PSHE lesson plans for key stages 3-5 is easy to follow, while accessible tutor time activities encourage further the promotion and protection of mental health. Staff coaching tools ensure adults develop their thinking and skills too. The book advocates best-practice, whole-school approaches that prioritise mental health as part of a thriving and safe learning environment.

Whether you're a PSHE lead, form tutor or senior leader, this resource empowers you to navigate sensitive topics with confidence, competence, clarity and care. Ultimately, it champions the idea that mental health education is not an add-on, but a vital component of preparing young people for life, emotionally, socially and academically.

Joanna Feast is an education consultant specialising in PSHE and wellbeing culture and is the founder and director of Epiphany ETC Ltd. A former mental health worker, teacher and school improvement adviser, she has worked in education and public health for over 26 years.