Minds On: Pyramid of Self-Care
In this activity, students discuss the concept of self-care and explore coping strategies they can implement in their lives.

In this 6-lesson unit, students will learn to recognize signs of mental health struggle and how to be there for others.
Students will learn to recognize their limits and how to take care of their own mental health.
Students will learn the difference between a mental health struggle and crisis, how to start a conversation with someone who is struggling with their mental health, and what to do if someone is in crisis.
Students will learn how to build trust and find practical ways to help someone through their day to day life.
Students will learn what it means to be a good listener and how to balance the conversation.
Students will learn what their role is - and is not - when supporting someone and how to set boundaries to protect their relationships and their own mental health.
In this lesson, your students will learn to access professional and community resources and what to expect from them.
Request a digital mental health learning experience for your students! Our trained and certified youth speakers introduce students to the basics of mental health, how to recognize signs of struggle in themselves and their peers, and how to access mental health support.
As a follow-up to the pre-recorded Jack Talk, students have the opportunity to revisit some of the key ideas shared by the speakers. Students can consolidate their learning through discussion, reflection, and application of knowledge.
This activity focuses on the importance of active listening, especially when someone shares a mental health struggle.
In this activity, students explore what stops people from asking for help with their mental health and introduces the importance of offering support and connecting to help.
In this activity, students discuss the concept of self-care and explore coping strategies they can implement in their lives.
Please refer to our Before You Teach guides for resources to support your practice.
Please note that his activity serves as a brief introduction to the topics of stress and self-care. It is important that this activity be used in the context of a broader lesson discussing stress and mental health struggle that could be related to mental health concerns, as well as identifying ways to seek help for oneself or others.
This activity can also be found within the lesson Be There for Yourself.
In this activity, students discuss the concept of self-care and explore coping strategies they can implement in their lives.
Note: All parts of the lesson procedure can be found in the slide deck provided.
Minds On: Pyramid of Self-Care Slide Deck ⤓
Self-Care Pyramid Youtube Short ⤓
A young adult named Jay in a yellow sweatshirt points to six pieces of paper stuck to the wall in the shape of a pyramid. As the audio plays, they remove each piece of paper one at a time to reveal six different self-care strategies. As they do this, audio from a tv competition show plays:
“On the bottom, Paige. You were good, I’m waiting for you to be great.”
#6 Going Outside
“And next, Kendall. You didn’t stick out to me.”
#5 Making my Bed
“Next is Brooke”
#4 Taking a Shower
“Next…Nia. You’re third on the pyramid and you were third overall high score”
#3 Skin Care Routine
“And Mackenzie…”
#2 Drinking Water
“Going three for three once again, is Maddie”
#1 Karaoke
Jay shares six activities that they find helpful for self-care. Why do you think that things like going outside, making your bed, or taking a shower are considered self-care? In what way(s) do they support mental health?
What are some activities or strategies that you use or know of to help cope with stress?
Sometimes, even though we know these coping strategies work, we forget to implement them in our daily lives. What are some tips or tricks you can think of to help yourself or others remember to use these strategies when they are feeling stressed?
Do you think visual reminders around the school of coping strategies would be helpful to students?
If you would like to extend the Minds On activity above, you can have your students create their own Pyramid of Self Care. This activity can also be found in the Be There for Yourself lesson.
Minds On: Pyramid of Self Care Handout ⤓
Health and Life Skills
Relationship Choices: Understanding and Expressing Feelings
R-9.3 analyze, evaluate and refine personal strategies for managing stress/crises
Physical and Health Education 9
Mental well-being
Physical Education/Health Education: Senior 2
S.4.S2.A.5
Personal Wellness 9
Achievement Indicators:
Grade 9 Health
Students will be expected to:
Healthy Living 9
Healthy Active Living Education, Grade 9 (PPL1O)
C3. Making Connections for Healthy Living
C3.2 identify warning signs and symptoms that could be related to mental health concerns (e.g., inability to cope with stress; feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, or worthlessness; negative thoughts about oneself, others, and the future; thoughts of suicide), and describe a variety of strategies for coping with or responding to mental health concerns affecting oneself or others (e.g., stress and mood management techniques, identifying ways to seek help for oneself or a friend/ classmate, supporting others who are struggling with their emotional well-being) [PS, IS]*
Physical Education and Health (PED402)
C. Healthy, Active Lifestyle
5. Stress prevention and management (positive or negative)
a. Names stressful situations that have an effect on his/her daily life (e.g. winning a competition, writing an exam)
b. Names the physiological reactions associated with a stressful situation (e.g. increased heart rate, perspiration)
c. Names the repercussions of poor stress management for his/her health and well-being (e.g. anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression)
d. Indicates strategies for relaxing (e.g. taking a warm bath, reading, exercising, using a relaxation technique)
Looking for more ways to support mental health in your area?
This is not a site for personal disclosure of mental health distress, suicidal thoughts or behaviours. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call a helpline, 9-1-1 or emergency services, or go to your nearest emergency department.
Registered Canadian Charitable Organization number: 84852 1837 RR0001
This is not a site for personal disclosure of mental health distress, suicidal thoughts or behaviours. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call a helpline, 9-1-1 or emergency services, or go to your nearest emergency department.
If someone’s thoughts or behaviours threaten the safety of themselves or others, then this is what’s called a mental health crisis. Call a helpline, 9-1-1 or emergency services. If someone has recently hurt themselves, but is no longer in danger, follow Be There’s Golden Rules and connect them to resources in their area.
Here's your download link: