Tips for Teaching Mental Health Awareness

If you were to ask your students: “What is mental health?” or “How do you take care of your brain?” How many of them could give a good answer?

The answer was VERY few at my school! So, I got to work.

Although May is the official Mental Health Awareness Month, as school counselors, we spark conversations about social-emotional well-being every single day.

Let’s dive into 4 reasons why teaching mental health awareness matters as well as my favorite books, lessons, and resources on this critical topic.

Why Teach Mental Health Awareness

Teaching mental health awareness lays the foundation for emotional resilience, healthy coping skills, and lifelong well-being. When we help kids understand and talk about their feelings, we’re not just addressing problems — we’re building protective skills that prevent future struggles!

Here are 4 reasons why teaching mental health awareness matters:

1. It supports academic and social success. Emotionally healthy children are more focused, cooperative, and better able to manage conflict and stress.
2. Early awareness reduces stigma. Kids who learn that big feelings, talking out their emotions, and counseling/mental health services are a normal part of every day life are more likely to ask for help when they need it and support others with empathy.
3. It promotes safety and self-advocacy. Kids who understand their emotions and healthy boundaries are more likely to report unsafe situations or seek help when something feels wrong.
4. It builds lifelong coping tools. Teaching healthy ways to handle anxiety, anger, and sadness equips kids to face challenges without shutting down or acting out.

When we teach mental health just like we teach physical health, we empower kids to care of their whole selves — mind and body.

Books that Teach Mental Health Awareness

Using storybooks to teach mental health awareness to kids is powerful because stories speak their language — simple, visual, and emotionally safe.

Here are 7 of my favorite story books that promote mental health and emotional well-being in kids:

1. “The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings” by Anna Llenas
2. “I Am Peace” by Susan Verde
3. “It’s OK” by Wendy O’Leary
4. “Listening To My Body” by Gabi Garcia
5. “Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival
6. “Breathe Like a Bear” by Kira Willey
7. “A Little Spot of Feelings” by Diane Alber

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

And here are reviews of a few of my favorites!

“The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings” by Anna Llenas

Y’all…the pop-ups in this book are MAGIC! They are elaborate, beautiful, and awe-inspiring for kids (and adults!)

The story itself is beautiful, too. Through the tale of a lovable monster whose feelings are all mixed up, kids learn to identify emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, each represented by a different color. The simple language and vibrant artwork make complex feelings easy to talk about, making it a perfect read-aloud for classrooms, counseling sessions, or home. “The Color Monster” is a gentle, engaging way to start important conversations about emotional awareness and mental health!

“I Am Peace” by Susan Verde

“I Am Peace” is such a calming and uplifting story – reading it feels like a cozy hug! It does a beautiful job of teaching kids how to handle big feelings through mindfulness.

With simple words and gentle rhythm, the story shows how taking deep breaths, noticing the world around us, and being present can help us feel more peaceful inside. It’s a perfect read for helping kids slow down, feel safe, and learn that peace starts within them.

“A Little Spot of Feelings” by Diane Alber

I love the “Little Spot” series – it’s so sweet for elementary learners! This book introduces the reader to Scribble SPOT who is an “Emotion Detective.” He pays special attention to facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice that offer clues to how others are feeling. These clues helps him learn how to name feelings!

From there, SPOT introduces us to all different feelings (i.e. “Peaceful SPOT,” “Anxiety SPOT,” “Happiness SPOT”) and teaches us how each one looks and feels in our bodies and brains.

If you love this book and would like to teach your kiddos more about each feeling, and how to cope, be sure to check out the boxed set!

Mental Health Awareness Lesson

This lesson is my go-to favorite for teaching mental health awareness. It includes differentiated materials for K – 5th graders!

It teaches students this kid-friendly definition of mental health: taking care of how you think and feel on the inside. It means loving and protecting your brain!

Students also learn 10 tips for taking care of their brains:

1. Get enough sleep
2. Think positive
3. Move your body
4. Explore and play
5. Connect and love
6. Name your feelings
7. Use coping skills
8. Try mindfulness
9. Take breaks
10. Ask for help

My favorite part of this lesson is this adorable craft! Students can decorate the clipart character to look like them and write about how they take care of their brains. It makes for a super cute hallway display!

I also love using the beautiful posters included in this lesson to make a bulletin board! I display it in the main hallway of my school during Mental Health Awareness Month.

I hope this post offered practical tips, resources, and suggestions for teaching mental health awareness to your students. What programming or initiatives do you plan on implementing with your kiddos? Please share in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

You may also be interested in:

• 6 Ways to Teach Diversity & Acceptance
• Tips for Teaching Mindfulness
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