Lesson Plan
Hidden Voices Plan
Students will learn about psychosis through Alex’s story, recognize associated emotions, and develop empathetic strategies to support peers facing hidden mental health challenges.
Building early mental health awareness helps students reduce stigma, foster empathy, and gain practical skills to support classmates who may experience unseen struggles.
Audience
Time
Approach
Materials
Prep
Materials Preparation
15 minutes
Step 1
Introduction & Hook
5 minutes
Step 2
Scenario Reading
10 minutes
Step 3
Small-Group Discussion
8 minutes
Step 4
Strategy Sharing
5 minutes
Step 5
Reflection & Wrap-Up
2 minutes
Slide Deck
Invisible Challenges
Ask students to brainstorm challenges people might face that aren’t visible. Record responses on the board. Explain that mental health struggles can be hidden and important to understand. Introduce Alex’s story as an example.
Alex’s Story
Distribute the [Hidden Voices Reading](#hidden-voices-reading). Ask students to read Alex’s story silently or in pairs. Prompt them to underline words that describe his feelings and experiences.
Emotion Vocabulary
Display the [Emotion Vocabulary Cards](#emotion-vocab-cards) in a visible area. Encourage students to use precise emotion words when discussing Alex’s situation.
Group Discussion
Form groups of 3–4 and hand out the [Hidden Voices Reflection Worksheet](#hidden-voices-worksheet). Circulate as students discuss and prompt them to refer to the emotion cards.
Sharing Strategies
Have each group share one key supportive strategy. Record each idea on the [Supporting Peers Poster](#supporting-peers-poster). Highlight themes like listening, patience, and encouraging professional help.
Reflection & Wrap-Up
Ask students to write on a sticky note: 1) One thing they learned today, 2) One way they could support a friend with an unseen challenge. Invite volunteers to post or share.
Reading
Worksheet
Activity
Activity
Cool Down
Worksheet
