How to Start Mental Health Awareness Week at Your School or in Your Home

Belonging Begins With Us

How It Started

Two years ago, I sat in a PTA meeting and asked: why aren't we doing anything for Autism Acceptance Month?

That question started something that turned into one of my favorite weeks of the year. We brought in autism acceptance, emotional regulation, disability inclusion, and mental health tools in a way that felt kid-friendly and real.

Now it's something students look forward to. And with a little prep, it's something you can do too, whether you're a teacher, a school coordinator, or a parent doing it at home with your own kids.

The Theme: Belonging Begins With Us

Everything we planned tied back to this message. The goal wasn't perfection. It was connection.

Each day, kids learned about inclusion and neurodiversity, practiced ways to handle big emotions, talked about how to ask for help, and saw messages of encouragement everywhere they looked.

A Simple Daily Plan

You can do one day or all five. Here's what worked for us. Each section includes both a school version and a home version so you can make it work wherever you are.

  • Monday: Disability Inclusion

    Focus: What is a disability, and how can we be more inclusive?

    At school: Use the provided PDF to guide a short classroom conversation. Encourage students to read disability posters during lunch. Have students write or draw a note to someone they love with a disability.

    At home    : Talk about what a disability is in simple, honest terms. Look up a picture book about disability together. Have your kids write or draw something kind for someone in their life.

  • Tuesday: Autism Acceptance

    Focus: Promoting understanding and acceptance of autistic people.

    At school    : Read a book from the neurodiversity book list. Discuss kindness and inclusion. Students decorate a card showing how they'll show acceptance and add it to the celebration banner at lunch. Students who visit the resource room receive a sensory-friendly goodie bag. Dress up in gold or bright colors to show support.

    At home    : Read a neurodiversity book together. Talk about what autism is and what acceptance looks like. Let your kids decorate a card or make something for someone they want to celebrate. Wear gold.

  • Wednesday: Learning to Regulate

    Focus: Recognizing emotions and using tools to stay in control.

    At school: Talk about how we recognize feelings and use regulation tools. Revisit or create a calm corner. Discuss how to kindly support classmates who are struggling.

    At home: Pull out your Zones Board or Spot the Feelings Board and talk through the zones together. Set up or refresh a calm corner. Practice one regulation strategy as a family.

  • Thursday: Mental Health Matters

    Focus: Exploring ADHD, anxiety, depression, and what mental health really means.

    At school: Have a brief discussion on what mental health means. Students draw or write one way they care for their mental wellness at school. Optional: encourage a kindness message exchange.

    At home: Talk openly about mental health in age-appropriate terms. Ask your kids what helps them feel better when things are hard. Write encouraging notes to each other and leave them somewhere to be found.

  • Friday: Prioritizing Wellness

    Focus: Knowing when and how to ask for help.

    At school: Normalize that everyone needs help sometimes. Talk about where students can go and who they can talk to. Set up a community resource table with local mental health flyers. Host an assembly focused on belonging, loneliness, and emotional wellness.

    At home:     Talk about who your kids can go to when they need help, at school, at home, and in your community. Practice saying I need help out loud together. Make it feel safe and normal.

  • What Makes It Work

    What Made It Work at School

    Teacher supply bags delivered Monday morning with everything needed. Consistent posters and visuals that made the whole school feel unified. Lunchroom themes with posters, videos, and hands-on stations. Daily focused themes that were doable and inclusive. Volunteer support for lunch rotations, regulation stations, and assembly setup.

    What Makes It Work at Home

    You don't need five days. Pick one. Print one poster. Read one book. Have one conversation. The goal is the same whether you're in a classroom or at your kitchen table: help your kids feel seen, safe, and like they belong.

You Can Do This

You don't need a big budget, a committee, or perfect execution.

Start with one simple day. One hallway poster. One read-aloud. One note of encouragement.

Because when kids feel like they belong, everything changes.

Belonging really does begin with us.

Free Printables & Templates

Want to do this too? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Canva Template of All Belonging Begins With Us Editable Book List
Weekly Overview and Email Templates 2025 Autism Video