What is a school mental health literacy programme?

A structured curriculum that teaches students, staff and parents how mental health works, how to talk about it, and when to ask for help - so the whole community shares one language rather than reacting only in a crisis.

How does it fit into an existing PSHE or wellbeing curriculum?

Our six literacy modules are designed to slot into what you already run. We map them against your existing scheme of work before delivery so nothing is duplicated.

Which year groups is it for?

Modules are adapted for lower secondary through to sixth form, with matching sessions for staff and for parents.

How is it different from response training?

Literacy is the everyday understanding; Youth Mental Health Response is what the adults do when someone is struggling. Schools get the strongest result when both run together.

Does this replace PSHE or our existing wellbeing curriculum?

No. It usually slots into existing pastoral or PSHE time and complements what you already run.

Which ages does the student programme cover?

Ages 9 to 18, with separate age-banded versions for upper primary, lower secondary and upper secondary.

Yes - all modules run in English and German.

Let's Be Real - Mental Health for Young Minds

Student mental health literacy programme

When students have words for what they are feeling, they are less likely to carry it alone. This classroom-ready programme gives students, staff and parents the same understanding of mental health - long before anything becomes a crisis.

This is our Mental Health Literacy curriculum delivered as a student wellbeing programme, alongside matching staff training and parent workshops so the whole school community shares one language. We deliver in international and state schools across Germany, Europe and beyond, in English and German, across a term, a school year, or sequenced over several years.

“Sometimes progress is a student finding the words sooner - and trusting that the adult listening will understand them.”
The belief behind our work

See the full literacy curriculum See all workshops

The six literacy modules

Your Growing Brain - understanding the storm of adolescence
Identity and Belonging - feeling at home in who you are
Healthy Relationships - care, trust and boundaries
Social Media and Self-Worth - looking beyond the scroll
Taking Care of You - finding steadiness in everyday life
Understanding Mental Health - finding words and asking for help

What students learn

Emotional literacy: naming feelings precisely enough to talk about them
Resilience and coping strategies that hold under pressure
Healthy relationships and boundaries
Digital wellbeing and comparison online
Belonging, identity and difference, including neurodivergence
Help-seeking: who to tell, and what happens next

How it is delivered

Six modules across the school year, delivered by us or co-delivered with your pastoral team. Sessions are age-banded for upper primary, lower secondary and upper secondary, and available in English and German.

Why literacy first

Students who can name distress ask for help earlier. Mental health literacy and destigmatisation are two sides of the same coin: knowing the signs, and feeling able to speak.

Who takes part

Students, in year-group or class sessions
Teachers and tutors, so the language continues between sessions
Pastoral, counselling and safeguarding teams
Parents, through matching evening sessions

How the programme is built with you

We start with a co-design conversation: your priorities, your existing curriculum, your safeguarding pathways. You choose the order and depth of the modules; we keep the content and the language consistent across every audience.

What schools see afterwards

Students describe how they feel with more precision
Help-seeking happens earlier and with less shame
Staff and parents use the same words as students
Wellbeing work stops being crisis-only

How our Mental Health Literacy pages fit together

One pillar page and one programme page - so you can go straight to the level you need.

1. Pillar
Mental Health Literacy
What mental health literacy is, why it works, and the evidence behind it.
2. The programme
Student mental health literacy programme
The six modules as a programme for students, staff and parents, ages 9 to 18, with delivery options and costs.

Free guide for school leaders

A short, practical download you can use before any programme starts.

For school leaders
The International School Mental Health Readiness Checklist
Thirty questions across six areas. Score your school's provision in about twenty minutes.
Get the guide

Common questions

What is a school mental health literacy programme?: A structured curriculum that teaches students, staff and parents how mental health works, how to talk about it, and when to ask for help - so the whole community shares one language rather than reacting only in a crisis.
How does it fit into an existing PSHE or wellbeing curriculum?: Our six literacy modules are designed to slot into what you already run. We map them against your existing scheme of work before delivery so nothing is duplicated.
Which year groups is it for?: Modules are adapted for lower secondary through to sixth form, with matching sessions for staff and for parents.
How is it different from response training?: Literacy is the everyday understanding; Youth Mental Health Response is what the adults do when someone is struggling. Schools get the strongest result when both run together.
Does this replace PSHE or our existing wellbeing curriculum?: No. It usually slots into existing pastoral or PSHE time and complements what you already run.
Which ages does the student programme cover?: Ages 9 to 18, with separate age-banded versions for upper primary, lower secondary and upper secondary.
Available in German?: Yes - all modules run in English and German.

Request literacy programme information

Tell us the year groups you want to start with and we will send the module outline, delivery options and indicative costs for your school.

Bring the literacy programme to your school

Tell us which year groups you want to start with and how much curriculum time you have, and we will propose a sequence.

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