Category: Lesson Planning Tool

Youth on Mental Health Policy

Youth on Mental Health Policy Unit Takeaways Recognize how children and youth are characterized within Canadian mental health policy. Consider the implications of how children and youth are represented in policy, and how their agency and inclusion offer new interpretations. Reflect on the gap that racialized youth see between how people who create mental health …

Letters to Professionals

Letters to Professionals Unit Takeaways To explore the messages that youth have for mental health professionals about what helps and what hinders their wellbeing. To consider the ways young people experience their mental health in relation to what they need from professionals and professional services. To recognize microaggressions committed against children and youth because of …

Resisting Adultism in Mental Wellbeing

Resisting Adultism in Mental Wellbeing Unit Takeaways Through an understanding of intersectionality, examine the ways discourses about “childhood” intersect with mental health discourses from the perspectives of psychiatrized youth. By looking at how youth understand mental health, and mental health issues, recognize how psychiatrized youth resist pathologization of their experiences of distress in childhood. By …

Component Evaluation: Discussion

Component Evaluation: Discussion Time: 45 minutes; flexible Format: In-Class; online After the going through the module and unit content a hold a discussion that looks at the significance of art, activism, community-making, and self: How do these artists portray and discuss interlocking oppressions and engage in activism? How does artmaking contribute to community and collective …

Component Evaluation: Gallery Text

Component Evaluation: Gallery Text Time: 60 minutes; flexible Format: In-Class; online Begin with a short lesson on elements of clear writing and successful exhibit writing. This could include going over visitor expectations, different types of exhibit labels, and clear language. Have students work either in small groups or on their own, have them write object …

Mad Artists’ Gallery

Mad Artists’ Gallery Takeaways Appreciate the importance of art-making and creative self-expression as a healing practice for racialized mad people who often have adverse experiences in the traditional mental health system Understand art as a form of activist engagement with, and critique of, interlocking systems of oppression Recognize the value of art-making as a medium …

‘Claiming Space’

The ‘Claiming Space’ Unit Takeaways Analyse the diverse experiences of oppression and exclusion that exist for mad people across race, gender, class, culture and sexuality. Understand the importance of equitable political and community engagement and representation.  Explore how power affects racialized youth’s experiences of mental distress in a range of contexts and the importance of …

Disappearing Completely

Disappearing Completely Takeaways Understand how the intersecting oppression of racism and sanism within mental health systems and in the community affect racialized people experiencing mental distress Analyze the intersections of race, gender, citizenship and mental distress for racialized people in Canada Appreciate the impacts of cultural expectations, stereotyping, and racism on individuals’ experiences of mental …

Component Evaluation: Discussion

Component Evaluation: Discussion Based Activity Timing: 30 minutes; flexible Mode: In-class; online After going through the module and unit content hold a discussion that looks at the various intersections pointed out by Ashley. You may also post these questions to an online forum for an asynchronous discussion. What do interlocking oppressions allow us to understand …

Component Evaluation: Knowledge Mobilization

Component Evaluation: Knowledge Mobilization Timing: 120 minutes; flexible Mode: In-class; online Knowledge mobilization is about making research accessible outside of academia. It involves information sharing and takes many forms. These forms include things like social media campaigns, infographics, websites, games, podcasts, and much more.  For this exercise have your students work in groups of 2-3 …