Mental Health on Record

• Tasks
• Teachers' notes
• External links
• Links to the Curriculum

‘Mental Health on Record’ is a stop-motion animation film made by young filmmakers during the summer of 2019. The group worked with professional filmmaker Nigel Kellaway to create the film. The National Archives partnered with Richmond Borough Mind and Jon Bartlett, a mental health first aid instructor, on the project.

Mental Health on Record explores the stories of nine individuals who experienced mental health issues during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It looks at the provision available at this time to care for people with mental health challenges, and considers the attitudes and the common misconceptions that existed. At KS3 and KS4, students learn about attitudes to mental health and how misconceptions can be addressed and challenged. This film can be used to spark discussion and consider case studies from the past.

Many thanks to the Friends of The National Archives for their support on this project. 

 

You can now view the video in full here, and explore our lesson activities to use the film as part of your history or PSHE studies.

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Tasks

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Teachers' notes

This film can be used to support KS3 and KS4 Health Education elements of the PSHE curriculum. It should only be used as part of planned developmental PSHE programme. Guidance on delivering content about mental health and emotional well-being can be found at: www.pshe-association.org.uk

The content of this film does contain material that some students might find distressing.

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External links

The following support is available to anyone wanting to seek help or advice:

Young Minds – www.youngminds.org.uk

Childline – www.childline.org.uk Phone: 0800 1111

Samaritans – www.samaritans.org Phone: 116 123

Shout – a 24-hour text service for someone experiencing a crisis and needing immediate help: 85258

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Explore the documents further:

Find further documents concerning ‘shell shock’ and neurasthenia cases: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/letters-first-world-war-1916-18/

The case of Mary Smith described as a “lunatic”: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/significant-people-collection/mary-smith/

Lesson on the impact of the New Poor Law: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/1834-poor-law/

Find out more about suffragette Olive Wharry with further sources: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/outrage-at-kew/

Further documents on the Suffragette Movement: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/suffragettes-on-file/

Links to the Curriculum

Key Stage 4

• GCSE thematic modules which cover ‘Medicine through Time to the present day’ and the ‘historical context of the British sector of the Western Front’.
• GCSE thematic modules which cover the development of the Welfare State in twentieth century Britain in the era of Booth and Rowntree, the Liberal Government 1906, the First and Second World Wars and the Beveridge report, the Welfare State and eventual creation of the NHS.

Key Stage 5

• AQA – A Level History: Britain in Transition 1906-1957: The Liberal Crisis 1906-1914.
• Edexcel – A Level History: Protest, Agitation and Parliamentary Reform in Britain c1780-1928: The Women’s Social and Political Union.
• OCR – A Level History: England and a New Century c1900-1918: Political issues: the issue of women’s suffrage 1906-1914.

Key Stage 3

• Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day: Women’s Suffrage, First World War

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