In addition to our in-classroom presentations, The NAN Project has developed a series of professional development workshops, resource guides, and mental-health lesson plans, to support our partner schools. All are provided free of charge.
PEER MENTOR PRESENTATIONS:
These stories detail our Peer Mentors’ struggles with mental illness and other issues facing young people, but more importantly, discuss the supports they were able to access and the coping strategies they have employed to find a path to recovery. By presenting these stories,we create a safe space for students to talk about mental health. In these presentations we also cover the signs and risks of a peer who may be struggling, as well as how to get them help in a crisis.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS:
The NAN Project has produced a series of webinars and live workshops to help educators and school faculty recognize the challenges of today’s students and provide appropriate responses and resources. All of our professional development trainings can be offered in-person or virtually, and can be tailored to a school’s current concerns or needs.
“These PDs are always the best ones we have all year!” -Educator, Hopedale Junior-Senior High School
This training will empower educators to act as a bridge to help for a student who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. QPR is not intended to be clinical, but rather, but to offer a suicide prevention tool anyone can use. This interactive training offers three simple steps - Question, Persuade, Refer, as well as suicide statistics, risk factors and warnings signs, and strategies on how to support a young person dealing with mental health challenges
What is self-care, and why is it important to the work you do to support young people? This training will identify, develop and encourage self-care techniques for teachers and community providers.
This workshop offers educators the tools to help build resilience within the schools for both teachers and students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Audience will learn practical steps to build hope and bounce forward to “the new normal.”
We all have the opportunity to become a trusted adult. Participants will learn the attributes of a trusted adult. Our Peer Mentors will use their lived experience to exemplify the strategies that really work to engage young people.
Mental Health 101 will help staff, faculty, or community stakeholders identify and respond to typical mental health diagnoses exhibited in the classroom and/or community setting.
For a more in depth discussion of common mental health presentations, consider:
- Anxiety In the Classroom,
- Depression in the Classroom,
- Or Anxiety & Depression in the Classroom,
This training will help educators conceptualize the 2021-2022 academic year through a trauma informed lens. This training delivers the basics of trauma informed care, including how schools can support both students and staff.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDES
LESSON PLANS FOR EDUCATORS
The NAN Project offers the following programs as a set of tools for schools and youth serving organizations to promote self-care, routine, and connectedness for the young people they serve. Each module includes a lesson plan and set of slides.
Boundary-setting can be a tool to take care of yourself and your mental health, especially for students who have less independence while social distancing. This lesson includes an overview of boundaries and the skills needed to set and reinforce them, and a visual representation of student’s boundaries. (45 Minutes)
Many of us are receiving distressing, upsetting, or even scary information about how our world or communities are affected by the coronavirus. Much of this news is not something we can control or affect. The discussion, and the visual created during this activity validate students' concerns, but also call attention to how many things are within our control, even in these challenging times.(45 Minutes)
Facing challenges gives us the opportunity to reflect on our hopes for the future and set new goals. This intention setting technique empowers us to design our lives based on a personal sense of meaning and positive mental well-being. Students will identify an intention or goal, as well as the supports and actions needed for that intention. (35-45 Minutes)
Self Compassion offers a space for the intense feelings we may be having, as well as an opportunity to offer ourselves some comfort during stressful times.This lesson will introduce the basics of self-compassion, and offer students a moment in their day to reflect on themselves and their mental health with kindness and understanding. (35-45 Minutes)