‘The Kid and I’

An interactive story and learning tool to help young people address mental health stigma

and discrimination

ACT 2

Kid & I

Act 2: Kaija’s Story Activities:

1. Kaija’s story: Pupils explore Kaija’s character and offer top tips about being the new person at school.

2. Becky’s story – Group Discussion: Pupils discuss Becky and her reaction to John’s mental health problem.

3. Changing relationships: Pupils identify and explore how Kaija and Becky’s

friendship changes through the story.

4. Media responsibilities : Pupils research positive and negative media representations of mental health problems.

5. Diary entry: Pupils write a diary entry as one of the character from the story.

The Kid and I

Kaija’s Story

The Kid and I Act 2 – Kaija’s Story

Kaija’s Story Time: 15 Minutes

_________________________________________________________________________

Kaija is new to John’s school and wants to make new friends. She is slowly learning about

the people she meets. She wants to be accepted and liked at her new school and is trying to

fit in, but her character can be interpreted in different ways.

Is she a friend to Becky? Does she support John? Does she like Suzi and Tom? Is she an

innocent bystander with the incident in the common room?

How would you describe the relationships that Kaija’s has with each of the other characters?

Take into account that Kaija is new to the school. What do you think has driven Kaija’s

actions throughout the story?

Complete the table below

Becky Friends Adversaries Acquaintances Supportive Defensive Challenging What description would you give their relationship?

Suzi Friends Adversaries Acquaintances Supportive Defensive Challenging What description would you give their relationship?

John Friends Adversaries Acquaintances Supportive Defensive Challenging What description would you give their relationship?

Tom Friends Adversaries Acquaintances Supportive Defensive Challenging What description would you give their relationship?

Kaija’s story

Kaija is learning how to make friends at her new school.

What advice would you give Kaija about how to deal with the situation?

1.

2.

3.

Is there anything you think Kaija could have done differently, to support John or Becky?

1.

2.

3.

The Kid and I

The Kid and I Act 2 Kaija’s Story

Becky’s story – Group Discussion Time 10

Minutes

AIMS: To understand that people can have a variety of different personal associations with mental

health, it can be a topic that is ‘close to home’ for many people. To understand how someone may

develop stigmatising views.

Becky is a complex character in John’s story. She displays confused, aggressive and defensive

behaviour and language.

Why might Becky be acting like this?

Discuss in groups these questions below:

What might Becky’s home life be like? What do we know about Becky’s mum’s mental health

problem (and how this is viewed in the family)?

How might Becky’s previous knowledge / family experience of mental health problems affect the

way she interacts with John?

Becky’s story – Group Discussion Time 10 Minutes

The Kid and I

The Kid and I Act 2 Kaija’s Story

Changing Relationships Time 10 Minutes

Discuss with a partner how Kaija and Becky’s relationship changes?

Can you identify when and how their relationship changes? Mark it in the table below:

Kaija and Becky’s friendship

At what point does their friendship change in the story? What interactions or incidents change the way they talk to each other?

How does their friendship change?

The Kid and I

The Kid and I Act 2 Kaija’s Story

Media responsibilities 30 Minutes

Public perceptions of mental health are heavily influenced by the media and how mental health problems are portrayed.

Your task is to research positive and negative media representations of mental health problems.

1Look through different types of media; newspapers, radio, TV, magazines and the internet: blog, twitter and Facebook update and record your

research in the table below. You need to identify the language used and who the article/programme/comment was intended for.

Here are some examples for you to start thinking about.

1. Social Media: Twitter was used to campaign against Asda and Tesco’s production of their stigmatising Halloween Costume’s

(September 2013)

2. Tabloid Headline: The Sun ‘1,200 killed by mental patient’(October 2013)

Discuss with the whole class how positive and negative media responses to mental health problems could affect young people like John?

What do the terms ‘Stigma’ and ‘Discrimination’ mean?

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

Media type Article or Programme name

Language used

Audience Media type Article or Programme name

Language used

Audience

Newspaper: Broadsheet Tabloid

Newspaper: Broadsheet Tabloid

Radio: Drama Non- Fiction News Report

Radio: Drama Non- Fiction News Report

TV: Drama Non- Fiction News Report

TV: Drama Non- Fiction News Report

Magazine: Lifestyle Arts and Culture Special Interest

Magazine: Lifestyle Arts and Culture Special Interest

Internet: Social media Blog Video

Internet: Social media Blog Video

The Kid and I Act 2 Kaija’s Story

Media responsibilities 30 Minutes

Public perceptions of mental health are heavily influenced by the media and how mental health problems are portrayed.

Your task is to research positive and negative media representations of mental health problems.

Look through different types of media; newspapers, radio, TV, magazines and the internet: blog, twitter and Facebook update and record your

research in the table below. You need to identify the language used and who the article/programme/comment was intended for.

Here are some examples for you to start thinking about.

1. Social Media: Twitter was used to campaign against Asda and Tesco’s production of their stigmatising Halloween Costume’s

(September 2013)

2. Tabloid Headline: The Sun ‘1,200 killed by mental patient’(October 2013)

Discuss with the whole class how positive and negative media responses to mental health problems could affect young people like John?

What do the terms ‘Stigma’ and ‘Discrimination’ mean?

The Kid and I

The Kid and I Act 2 Kaija’s Story

Diary Entry Time 20 Minutes

Write a diary entry from the perspective of one of the characters from ‘The Kid and I’ or from another student in the year group who heard about what

went on.

It must include their view on the incident involving John, Becky and Kaija in the common room at school that day.

You can use the writing framework below.

1. Write an introduction that sets the scene.

2. Write about the day in chronological order. Choose the details that are important, interesting and significant. Remember diary’s express opinions

and emotions.

3. Write a conclusion, perhaps commenting on what you might have done differently, your take on mental health stigma and discrimination, or how

you might relate to the other characters in future