Sex Ed UK: Embedding Mental Health & Suicide Prevention in RSHE

The July 2025 UK Relationships, Sex & Health Education (RSHE) curriculum update marks a major step in embedding mental health resilience and suicide prevention into the school experience.

The change comes after the ‘3 Dads Walking’ – Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen – completed their 600-mile walk across Britain in October 2022 to campaign for better suicide prevention in schools after having lost their daughters to suicide.

By combining expert‑guided lesson content, inclusive engagement with parents, strategic use of MHSTs and charities, and creative student‑led activities, schools and educators can create a supportive ecosystem that helps young people build self-esteem, resist online harms, and seek help when needed. The DfE provides a wide range of resources and guidance here.

Equally, parents can use the new guidance and support materials to manage mental health challenges at home better and work together with the school for more effective prevention.

What’s new in the RSHE Curriculum (15 July 2025)

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Age‑appropriate suicide prevention is now embedded into RSHE for secondary schools. Mental health resilience and self‑harm awareness are emphasised with the principles and guidance from mental health professionals.
The updated statutory guidance reinforces teaching grit, resilience, healthy risk‑taking, and positive role models, particularly aimed at disrupting toxic narratives like the “manosphere” and misogynistic online content.
Schools must ensure materials remain open to parental review and that mental health professionals are consulted in lesson planning.

Implications for Schools, Educators and Parents

1. Equip and empower school staff

Senior Mental Health Lead: Ensure someone in the senior leadership team takes on this role and taps into the DfE’s free peer networks and training modules as part of a Mental Health Support Team (MHST) or as a coordinator.
Consult mental health experts when planning suicide/self-harm sessions—this is now a statutory requirement for secondary school RSHE.

2. Build a whole-school mental health approach

Adopt the Promoting & Supporting Mental Health guidance – includes Psychological First Aid and MHST integration.
Consider Every Life Matters’ “Suicide-Safer Schools Programme” to assess policy gaps and build postvention plans and targeted support tools.

3. Engage parents proactively

Share lesson outlines on mental health and suicide prevention.
Host parent workshops, co-led with mental health professionals or local charities, to build home–school continuity.

Practical Teaching & Home‑Learning Tips

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1. At school

Motivate through Role Models: Invite a counsellor, survivor or use role-plays focusing on coping strategies and seeking help.
Debunk Myths: Tackle online harmful narratives (e.g., “incel” rhetoric) by comparing them with real stories of positive masculine identity.
Therapeutic Safety Planning: Teach students how to create a simple “safety or coping plan”—templates available via NHS England (find link below).
Curriculum Projects: Assign group research on figures or campaigns promoting male and female mental health (e.g., Movember, community heroes).
Manage Cyberbullying: Harmful content and communication exposure, like social media bullying, should be addressed for better coping strategies.

2. At home

Encourage open daily check-ins through “screen-free” times like reading, eating, playing a board/ball, etc. game together.
Create family “well-being jars”: write uplifting notes together, open when someone needs a boost.
Use resources like the Mental Health Foundation’s toolkits to learn about building community and self-esteem.
Monitor and control the digital device usage with parental monitoring tools.

Key Resources & Organisations

Resource/Organisation	What They Offer	How to Use
Samaritans (116 123)	24/7 support and training	Promote posters; include helpline in lesson slides.
Papyrus UK	Youth suicide prevention training (ASIST, safeTALK), Wellbeing App Reviews	Train staff & older pupils
Every Life Matters	School self-assessment tools & postvention guides	Audit your school’s policies
Anna Freud Centre / PSHE Assoc.	Classroom-ready mental wellbeing activities	Plan lessons aligned with statutory RSHE aims
Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)	School-based practitioners	Referral pathways for early intervention
NHS England	Safety planning templates	Include in PSHE packs

Key Tools & Apps

Tool / Platform	Focus	Best Use Case
Childline For Me	Confidential chat & mood	Immediate support, signposting, and tools
SafeUT	Crisis chat 24/7	Staff & student emergency access
Stay Alive (Papyrus)	Suicide planning & support	RSHE lesson resource & parental tool
Papyrus Training	Educator workshops	Building school capacity
The Mix	Peer support & info hub	Home tutoring and student signposting
HeadsUpGuys	Male mental health	RSHE unit on positive male identity and screening tools

Tips for Successful Implementation

Embed mental health conversations into assemblies, tutor time, and transitions—not just PSHE lessons.
Train staff to respond empathetically using therapeutic conversation frameworks.
Plan continuity: offer follow-up sessions or drop-ins after heavy topics.
Measure impact with brief wellbeing surveys before/after sessions to inform approach adjustments.

There is Hope and Help

While the RSHE curriculum update won’t come into effect until September 2026, educators, teachers, tutors, schools and parents and students can make a start and prepare through available downloadable lesson plans, parent leaflets, workshops, and tools and resources—empowering whole communities to support young people’s mental well‑being for a better future.

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Manuela WillboldChief of Marketing: As the Chief of Marketing at the digital marketing agency ClickDo Ltd I blog regularly about technology, education, lifestyle, business and many more topics.