25 Evidence-Based Activities
Complete Activity Collection Overview
Explore our comprehensive suite of mental health literacy activities designed to empower young adults through evidence-based practices.
About This Collection
Welcome to our comprehensive Mental Health Literacy Activity Collection – a transformative resource designed to bridge the gap between mental health awareness and practical skill-building. This collection contains 25 evidence-based activities specifically crafted for young adults aged 18-30, addressing the critical need for mental health education in today’s challenging world.
These activities emerge from extensive research and real-world application, co-funded by the European Union as part of a broader initiative to strengthen mental health literacy across communities. Each activity is grounded in evidence-based therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness practices, and solution-focused techniques. Our development process follows rigorous guidelines from leading organizations including the American Psychological Association (APA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), World Health Organization (WHO), and peer-reviewed research studies.
The collection recognizes that mental health literacy is not just about understanding symptoms and disorders – it’s about building resilience, fostering empathy, developing practical coping skills, and creating supportive communities. Whether you’re a youth worker, educator, mental health professional, or community leader, these activities provide you with tools to facilitate meaningful conversations, reduce stigma, and empower young people to take charge of their mental well-being.
Each activity has been tested in real-world settings across different cultural contexts, ensuring they are not only theoretically sound but practically effective. From creative arts-based approaches to interactive discussions, from digital wellness strategies to traditional group therapy techniques, this collection offers diverse pathways to mental health education that can be adapted to various learning styles, group dynamics, and organizational needs.
Activity Categories & Usage Guide
🎭 Creative & Expressive Activities
🧠 Self-Awareness & Psychological Understanding
💪 Resilience & Coping Strategies
🌐 Digital Wellness & Modern Challenges
🗣️ Communication & Language
📚 Educational & Foundation Building
🎯 Interactive & Movement-Based
🌱 Wellness & Personal Growth
Creative & Expressive Activities
Perfect for building empathy and reducing stigma through art and storytelling
Creative and expressive activities are designed for participants who learn best through artistic expression, storytelling, and imaginative exploration. These activities harness the power of creativity to break down emotional barriers and create safe spaces for discussing difficult topics. They work particularly well with groups who may be hesitant to engage in traditional discussion-based formats, as the creative process naturally facilitates deeper emotional connection and understanding. The importance of this category lies in its ability to bypass cognitive defenses and allow participants to explore mental health concepts through metaphor, symbolism, and visual representation, making complex psychological concepts more accessible and less intimidating.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behind the Smile | 1-3 | 90-120 min | 12-36 | Medium | Depression awareness, creative expression |
| Stop Theatre | 10-12 | 90 min | 15-25 | Medium | Peer support skills, empathy building |
| Emotion Wheel Puzzle | 6-8 | 60 min | 10-20 | Easy | Emotional literacy, self-awareness |
Self-Awareness & Psychological Understanding
Focus on understanding emotions, defense mechanisms, and psychological patterns
Self-awareness and psychological understanding activities are designed to help participants develop deeper insight into their own emotional patterns, thought processes, and behavioral responses. These activities connect participants with fundamental psychological concepts through experiential learning, helping them recognize their defense mechanisms, understand their emotional triggers, and develop greater emotional intelligence. They work through guided self-reflection, mindfulness practices, and structured exploration of psychological frameworks. The importance of this category cannot be overstated - self-awareness forms the foundation of all mental health improvement, enabling participants to recognize when they need support and providing them with the internal resources to manage their emotional well-being proactively.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Why Did I Just Do That? | 3-6 | 90-110 min | 10-25 | Moderate | Defense mechanisms, self-awareness |
| Mindful Moments | 23-25 | 90 min | 8-15 | Easy-Moderate | Grounding techniques, mindfulness |
| Self-Help: Emotional Intelligence & Resilience | 45-49 | 60 min | 10-20 | Easy-Moderate | EI development, resilience building |
Resilience & Coping Strategies
Activities focused on building practical coping skills and stress management
Resilience and coping strategies activities are practical, skill-building sessions that equip participants with concrete tools to manage stress, overcome challenges, and bounce back from setbacks. These activities connect theoretical knowledge with real-world application, teaching participants how to develop personalized coping toolkits, set realistic goals, and build emotional resilience that will serve them throughout their lives. They emphasize proactive mental health management rather than reactive crisis response. The importance of this category is fundamental - while understanding mental health is valuable, having practical skills to maintain and improve one's mental well-being is essential for long-term success and life satisfaction.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activate Your Resilience | 12-15 | 90 min | 10-20 | Medium | Building coping toolkits, goal setting |
| Stress Less: Practical Strategies | 25-28 | 60-90 min | 10-30 | Basic-Intermediate | Anxiety management, well-being |
| Cool Off Before Burnout | 20-23 | 90 min | 10-20 | Moderate | Burnout prevention, work-life balance |
| Calm Minds, Strong Lives | 17-20 | 60-90 min | 15-30 | Basic-Intermediate | Stress management, healthy habits |
Digital Wellness & Modern Challenges
Addressing contemporary mental health challenges related to technology
Digital wellness activities address the unique mental health challenges of our technology-saturated era, helping participants understand how social media, screen time, and digital connectivity impact their emotional well-being. These activities connect the dots between digital habits and mental health outcomes, exploring topics like social comparison, addictive technology design, and the importance of digital boundaries. They provide practical strategies for maintaining healthy relationships with technology while recognizing its benefits. The importance of this category has grown exponentially as research reveals the significant impact of digital consumption on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem, particularly among young adults who have grown up in the digital age.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact of Social Media on Emotions | 31-35 | 90 min | 5-20 | Low-Moderate | Digital wellness, emotional regulation |
| Addictive Behavior with Screens | 35-39 | 90 min | 10-20 | Moderate | Screen time management, boundaries |
Communication & Language
Building inclusive communication and challenging stigma
Communication and language activities focus on the powerful role that words play in either perpetuating or dismantling mental health stigma. These activities help participants recognize how language shapes attitudes, learn person-first and recovery-oriented communication, and develop skills for having supportive conversations about mental health. They connect participants with the understanding that stigma is often rooted in language choices and cultural narratives that can be changed through conscious effort. The importance of this category is crucial for creating lasting social change - when individuals learn to communicate about mental health with empathy and accuracy, they become advocates who can influence their families, workplaces, and communities to adopt more inclusive and supportive approaches.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Words Matter: Language for Healing | 28-31 | 60-90 min | 15-30 | Moderate | Stigma reduction, inclusive language |
| A Walk Through Stigma | 49-52 | 75 min | 25-30 | Level 2 | Stigma awareness, experiential learning |
Educational & Foundation Building
Core knowledge building and myth-busting activities
Educational and foundation building activities provide essential mental health literacy knowledge through engaging, interactive formats that go beyond traditional lecture-style learning. These activities connect participants with evidence-based information about mental health conditions, symptoms, treatment options, and support systems while actively dispelling harmful myths and misconceptions. They use concept mapping, case studies, and collaborative research to help participants build a solid knowledge foundation. The importance of this category serves as the bedrock for all other mental health work - accurate knowledge empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their own mental health, recognize when they or others need support, and advocate effectively for mental health resources in their communities.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health 101 | 53-56 | 90 min | 30 (groups of 5) | Level 1 | Foundation knowledge, concept mapping |
| Myths vs Facts | 58-60 | 90 min | 30 | Level 1 | Myth-busting, critical thinking |
| Signs vs Symptoms | 60-62 | 90 min | 30 | Level 2 | Recognition skills, early intervention |
| Behind the Smile (Case Studies) | 51-53 | 90 min | 30 | Level 2 | Practical analysis, empathy building |
Interactive & Movement-Based
High-energy activities that combine learning with physical engagement
Interactive and movement-based activities recognize that learning happens not just in the mind but through the body, incorporating physical movement, kinesthetic learning, and high-energy engagement to explore mental health concepts. These activities connect physical movement with emotional processing, using the body as a tool for understanding and remembering important mental health information. They work particularly well for groups who learn better through action rather than discussion, and they help break down the artificial separation between physical and mental well-being. The importance of this category lies in its ability to engage different learning styles, increase retention through embodied learning, and demonstrate the crucial connection between physical activity and mental health in a direct, experiential way.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myth Busters | 8-10 | 45-60 min | 10-40 | Low-Medium | Movement-based learning, myth-busting |
| Building Resilient Communities | 15-17 | 60-120 min | 10-25 | Moderate | Community building, advocacy skills |
Wellness & Personal Growth
Focus on holistic well-being and personal development
Wellness and personal growth activities take a holistic approach to mental health, exploring the philosophical and lifestyle dimensions of well-being that extend beyond symptom management or crisis intervention. These activities connect participants with deeper questions about happiness, life satisfaction, purpose, and personal values while providing practical tools for ongoing personal development. They integrate mindfulness, positive psychology, and wisdom traditions to help participants develop a comprehensive understanding of what it means to live a mentally healthy life. The importance of this category provides the ultimate goal toward which all other mental health work points - not just the absence of mental illness, but the presence of genuine well-being, resilience, and life satisfaction that enables individuals to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
| Activity Name | Page | Duration | Group Size | Complexity | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happiness and Wellbeing | 39-45 | 120 min | 5-20 | Low-Moderate | Philosophy of happiness, mindfulness |
Quick Selection Guide
For First-Time Groups (Start Here)
- Mental Health 101 (Page 53) – Foundation building
- Myths vs Facts (Page 58) – Engaging introduction
- Emotion Wheel Puzzle (Page 6) – Interactive learning
For Small Groups (8-15 people)
- Mindful Moments (Page 23) – Intimate setting
- Self-Help: EI & Resilience (Page 45) – Personal development
- Behind the Smile (Page 1) – Creative expression
For Time-Constrained Sessions
- Emotion Wheel Puzzle (60 min, Page 6)
- Self-Help: EI & Resilience (60 min, Page 45)
- Myth Busters (45-60 min, Page 8)
For Advanced Groups
- Why Did I Just Do That? (Page 3) – Deep psychological exploration
- A Walk Through Stigma (Page 49) – Experiential learning
- Stop Theatre (Page 10) – Complex role-playing
For Large Groups (25+ people)
- Myth Busters (Page 8) – Movement-based
- Mental Health 101 (Page 53) – Structured group work
- Building Resilient Communities (Page 15) – Community focus
For Extended Workshops
- Happiness and Wellbeing (120 min, Page 39)
- Building Resilient Communities (60-120 min, Page 15)
- Behind the Smile (90-120 min, Page 1)