Students from five Illawarra high schools will play their part in trying to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the Largest Mental Health Awareness Lesson.
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The NSW Department of Education attempt is expected to see more than 2000 Year 9 and 10 students from 50 schools across the state participate in an interactive 40-minute lesson designed to develop resilience in young people.
If the attempt on November 9 is successful it will smash the current record of 857 people, set in the United Kingdom in June this year.
Corrimal, Kanahooka, Kiama, Woonona and Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts students will feature in the world record attempt.
NSW Department of Education secretary Mark Scott said the world record attempt aimed to promote the importance of positive mental health education and showcase the department’s commitment to this important issue.
“This mental health lesson has been designed to give students the resilience and skills they need to cope with stressful situations while letting them know it’s OK to ask for help,” Mr Scott said.
“Being mentally fit doesn’t mean things won’t go wrong, but the more mentally fit we are, the better we are at coping with life’s challenges and enjoying life.”
The Largest Mental Health Awareness Lesson has been developed in partnership with teachers and leading mental health and youth organisations, in line with the new K-10 PDHPE syllabus.
The lesson will also be livestreamed to more than 7200 students from 80 schools across NSW.
The leson will be taught by staff from headspace and the NSW Department of Education.
It will also include entertainment from student and celebrity performers, such as singer Jai Waetford and TV presenter and health coach, Olivia Phyland.