Healthier Hearts and Lighter Minds

Program description

Healthier Hearts and Lighter Minds is a social and emotional learning program offering a proactive approach to recognising and expressing emotions.

Students learn emotional resilience and regulation and build empathy for themselves and others through sessions delivered by a team of 3 facilitators. The program also includes:

• lesson plans for teachers to use in the classroom
• training for teachers and parents around building emotional literacy to support students
• the option to complete Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
• a resource pack for ongoing support.

The program is delivered in 3 Phases, with sessions delivered to students at each phase by a team of 3 facilitators from Mindfull Australia, as outlined below:

• Phase 1: Identify, Control and Express (2hrs)
• Phase 2: Our Beautiful Brain (50min) and The Art of Presence (50min)
• Phase 3: Tip Top Choices (1.5hrs).

Intended outcomes

• Greater ability to articulate feelings
• Improved awareness of mental health and wellbeing
• Better peer relationships
• Improved behaviour
• Reduced bullying and harassment
• Improved educational outcomes
• Improved mental health

Program details

Implementation considerations

• Target population: Primary school children between Prep and Grade 6.
• Program adaptability: The program enables slight modification to meet specific outcomes or needs of the school, including incorporating a behaviour management plan and emotional resources. The program is adaptable for diverse cohorts including:
  • neurodivergent students
  • students with a disability.
• Staffing: Schools are not required to backfill for teaching staff during program implementation. The Menu provider and its personnel must not be alone with any school student or group of school students in the classroom or in any other place at the school’s premises without another educator, teacher or teacher’s aide present at all times.
• Training requirements: There are no pre-learning requirements for schools prior to program implementation.
• Factors to consider: The program requires a space for all participating students to comfortably participate and move around. Where possible, schools require a whiteboard to help display information used in the program. A group size of no less than 10 participants is recommended to provide a sense of comfort for students and enable group activities. Mindfull Australia coordinators support schools to follow up post program with feedback, questions or further implementation options. All student sessions delivered in schools are delivered by a team of 3 facilitators from Mindfull Australia.
• Australian context: This program has been developed and applied in Australia.

Cost

Minimum cost

$2,000+

Detailed cost

The cost for the foundational Healthier Hearts and Lighter Minds program for one year is $4,684.70 (including GST). This includes:

• a Phase 1 session (2 x 2-hour sessions, equivalent of one day of delivery for 80 students)
• a Phase 2 session (one x one-hour session, with all 80 students)
• Phase 1 and 2 session logistics, transport, materials and resources
• 12 months of lesson plans (40 hours’ worth).

The cost for the integrated Healthier Hearts and Lighter Minds program for one year is $10,170.90 (including GST). This builds on the foundational program to also includes additional parent and teacher workshops.

The cost for the holistic Healthier Hearts and Lighter Minds program for one year is $17,466.90 (including GST). This builds on the integrated program to also include:

• a Phase 3 session (3 x 1.5-hour sessions, equivalent of one day delivery for 120 students)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Training session (14-hours for 12 participants).