The Healthy Minds Challenge is a school based mental health literacy and health promotion initiative involving both Primary and Secondary schools across the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area. The aim of the project is to educate students about mental illness, how to seek help and how to support others. Students will drive the promotion of positive wellbeing and mental health in their schools, through the development of a short video highlighting strategies implemented in their school to improve the mental health of their peers and community.

The Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, partnering with CareerLinks and supported by the Black Dog Institute have developed a suite of extensive, well researched and evidence-based resources to be used by teachers and students within the project. This includes Teacher Lesson Plans, student Workbooks, Short Videos and activities to help students learn about Mental Health and how they can develop strategies for their own school.

The Healthy Minds Project launched on 31st October 2022 for school registrations, with the Project running in Term 1 and 2 in 2023. Open to Primary and Secondary Schools across Lake Macquarie.

Schools will register a team or class to participate in the project. The Healthy Minds Challenge consists of:
(1) A 6 lesson plan program
(2) Development of student led mental health strategies for their school
(3) Submission of a short video explaining their strategies
(4) A community Showcase Event for all participants, their families, project partners and community to celebrate the program and student projects

Schools can download the Teacher Resource Pack here, which contains registration forms, consent forms and lesson plans.