Signs worth taking seriously
Distress rarely announces itself. These articles cover the quieter changes that come long before a crisis.
Let's Be Real - Mental Health for Young Minds
Teen mental health
What young people are actually navigating, and what helps them speak up sooner.
Belonging and identity
Peer support, LGBTQI+ inclusion and why feeling known at school is protective.
Getting help
How young people find support services, and what makes them stop looking.
The evidence
Summaries of the research behind mental health literacy and destigmatisation, written for non-specialists.
Articles
Mental Health
Mental Health Is Not Extra Credit: Why Schools Must Step Up Now
Only 7% of young people feel happy. Over half say their mental health isn't taken seriously, and schools aren't helping. In a world where pressure is constant and belonging is rare, mental health can't be 'extra credit' anymore. It must be core curriculum.
Jacqueline M. Klemke - 08/07/2025
MHFA
How MHFA-Inspired Peer Support Can Help LGBTQI+ Students Feel Safer In Schools
When an LGBTQI+ student opens up to a peer, it can be a moment of deep courage and care. This article explores how schools can build safe, sustainable peer support programmes using Mental Health First Aid principles.
Nick Praulins - 16/06/2025
LGBTQI+
Supporting LGBTQI+ Students Starts with Listening: MHFA Strategies for Schools
For many LGBTQI+ students, sharing their identity at school is an act of courage that may come with emotional risk. Grounded in the MHFA approach, this article explores how listening without judgement becomes a powerful act of inclusion.
Nick Praulins - 29/05/2025
Mental Health Support Services
What to Say (and Not Say) to a Student Who's Having a Hard Time - A Teacher's Guide
How do you start a conversation with a student who's not quite themselves, without making it awkward or overwhelming? This teacher-friendly guide breaks it down into five calm, actionable steps.
Nick Praulins - 19/05/2025
Mental Health Support Services
Why Every School Leader Should Be Trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Why MHFA training is essential for school leaders, especially in international schools across Europe. Learn how it supports well-being, leadership, and whole-school culture.
Nick Praulins - 03/05/2025
Mental Health Support Services
Navigating Youth Mental Health Support in Germany: A Guide for English-Speaking Families
Finding youth mental health support in Germany can feel overwhelming, especially in English. This practical guide offers clear, accessible steps to help you find the right support, from crisis lines to long-term care.
Nick Praulins - 11/04/2025
Recommended next step
Mental Health Literacy programme
This topic is about young people understanding their own mental health, which is the core of the literacy programme.
Six modules that give students, staff and parents one shared language.
See the Mental Health Literacy programmeFrom reading to training
Turn this into something your community can practise
These guides are the thinking behind our programmes. When you are ready to put it into practice, here is where it becomes live training.
- Mental Health Literacy programmeSix modules that give students, staff and parents one shared language.See the programme
- Youth Mental Health ResponseMHFA-informed response training: staff learn to NOTICE, HOLD and LEAD.See the programme
- NOTICE parent workshopA 4-hour parent workshop delivered as two 2-hour live sessions.See the programme
Related pages
Ask us about this programme
Tell us a little about your school or family and we will reply with dates, formats and pricing - usually within one working day.
Bring this to your students
Our Mental Health Literacy modules take these topics into the classroom across a school year.