These are some suggested activities that could be used in school and youth club's. They can be adapted and added to your own ideas.

"Thought For The Day"

The WMHD thought bubble logo is an ideal vehicle for a whole range of local activities. WMHD is all about human individuality and the thought bubble can be used for personal expression. It could be reproduced or drawn, leaving it empty for people to include their own thought for the day using pictures as well as words. They could be used as a basis for a display, which would involve lots of people.

"Message in a balloon"

Like the idea of putting a message in a bottle, try putting a message in a balloon!

People could be asked to write down positive, inspiring messages for strangers to receive and insert the massages into helium balloons. These could then be let off with the result that the messages could reach out to others - a random act of kindness!

Alternatively, balloons could be used as a type of stress buster device. People could be invited to write down any negative feelings that they might be experiencing onto a balloon, for example, frustration, anger. In order to dispel these feelings, they could then pop the balloon.

Thinking of others

The WMHD post-cards could be used to send caring thoughts to others. It could also be a good way of keeping in touch or as a way of making new friends. An international dimension could be included by exchanging post-cards with a twin town or twin school, encouraging new pen pal friendships.

"A Life In The Day Of"

This idea came about as a result of the WMHD story telling theme, which is all about people expressing their various experiences. This could be done in pictorial form by creating a type of film strip series of images either drawn, or using photographs which tell the story of someone's' typical day. The blank thought bubble stickers could be written or drawn on and then incorporated into the story, highlighting emotional issues faced by people. A collection of stories could form a basis of an exhibition.

DIY WMHD Friendship pin

The WMHD Friendship pin is CHEAP and EASY to make!

It symbolises human individuality. It is a progression of the friendship bracelet concept, symbolising the importance of friendship for everyone. Not only is it similar to the friendship bracelet, but it also resembles the AIDS red ribbon shape, which now has universal relevance. They could be made to give to a friend or as an expression of ones' own individuality. They will also be a great talking point in promoting WMHD.

How to Make Your WMHD Friendship Pin

Choose 3 strands of anything you like, which can be plaited. e.g. cotton yarn, wool, ribbon, strips of fabric, etc.

1. Knot the 3 strands together at one end
2. Plait the strands together
3. Secure the plait by tying a knot in the end
4. Make a circle out of the plait.
5. Secure both ends of the plait together using another knot or a piece of yarn, leaving the 2 ends free, so the overall shape is similar to the AIDS ribbon.
6. Insert a safety pin through the point where the plait is joined together.
7. Wear your WMHD Friendship pin with pride or give it to a friend as a sign of your friendship.
8. Wear your WMHD Friendship pin every day of the year as a constant reminder that mental health matters.

Obviously, there is scope for unlimited variations of the basic principle of making a WMHD Friendship pin. For example:

• You could make 3 plaits and then plait them into 1 plait.
• You could make several friendship pins in various colours, using a variety of materials to suit different moods.
• You could experiment with size and thickness.

DIY Mood Book

The WMHD Mood Book is aimed at young people between the ages of 10-18 years. The intention of the book is to act as a type of mental health awareness book. The ring binder book should contain thought provoking images and quotes and also act as a type of emotional diary for the owner to express their feelings by writing, drawing, making a recording, and to also act as a scrap book to collect personal things.

Young people could collect different textured and coloured paper; images from magazines; old letters or post-cards; photographs; cartoons; labels; quotes from songs, poems, books,; things people have said that you like; dried autumn leaves; favourite recipe, they can include anything that appeals to them.

These are some quotes that can be used:-