Resources for Students and Educators
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers a variety of learning resources for students and teachers about mental health and the brain. Whether you want to understand mental health challenges, promote emotional well-being in the classroom, or simply learn how to take care of your own mental health, our resources cover a wide range of topics to foster a supportive and informed learning environment. Explore videos, coloring books, and hands-on quizzes and activities to empower yourself and others on the journey to mental well-being.
You can also find additional educational resources about mental health and other topics on NIH’s STEM Teaching Resources website .
Videos
Get to Know Your Brain: Your brain is an incredible and complex organ! It helps you think, learn, create, and feel emotions, and it controls every blink, breath, and heartbeat. Learn more about the parts of the brain and what each area helps control.
Mental Health Minute: Stress and Anxiety in Adolescents: Got 60 seconds? Take a mental health minute to learn about stress and anxiety in adolescents.
Getting to Know Your Brain: Dealing with Stress: Test your knowledge about stress and the brain. Also learn how to create and use a “stress catcher” to practice strategies to deal with stress.
Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress: Learn how the brain handles stress and practice a guided visualization activity.
Coloring and activity books
Print or order these coloring and activity books to help teach kids about mental health, stress, and the brain. These are available in English and Spanish.
Get Excited About Mental Health Research!
This free coloring and activity book introduces kids to the exciting world of mental health research.
Stand Up to Stress!
This free coloring and activity book teaches children about stress and anxiety and offers tips for coping in a healthy way.
Get Excited about the Brain!
This free coloring and activity book for children ages 8-12 features exciting facts about the human brain and mental health.
Quizzes and activities
Use these fun, hands-on activities in the classroom or at home to teach kids about mental health.
Teen Depression Kahoot! Quiz
Engage students in fun and interactive competition as they learn about depression, stress and anxiety, self-care, and how to get help for themselves or others.
Stress Catcher
Life can get challenging sometimes, and it’s important for kids (and adults!) to develop strategies for coping with stress or anxiety. This printable stress catcher “fortune teller” offers some strategies children can practice and use to help manage stress and other difficult emotions.