What’s on our mind can be the hardest subject. So, what’s on yours?
A different kind of homework
Mental Health has declined in almost 40% of school children (NHS Survey). That’s why Britain Get Talking is setting the nation a different kind of homework. It’s designed to help ease our stress and reduce our anxiety by asking what's on our minds. Take part in our national homework exercise by having a chat tonight.
You don’t need a pen or paper, but if you’re unsure where to start, download our task and try writing or drawing your worries on the front cover.
Download printable task
Read video transcript Download audio described Ad
[A young girl looks up at the camera. Throughout the video, a group of children are in different locations. The speakers change at the end of each sentence. ]
- Mum
- Dad
- Gran
- Uncle Alistair
- Listen up.
[A boy bangs on a drum kit]
[A girl walks down a school hallway]
- We need to talk about our mental health.
[A girl sits in a stairwell, looking up at the camera whilst on her phone]
- Have you seen the news lately?’
[One girl sits by an outside sports area and signs]
Subtitle reads: It’s scary!
[A girl leans against a railing]
- The cost of living
[A girl turns around in her seat during an assembly]
- The climate
- Crisis after crisis
[One girl sits by an outside sports area and signs]
Subtitle reads: I know you are trying to protect us.
[A boy looks at his reflection in the bathroom mirror]
- By not talking to us about these things.
[Outside a breakfast cafe, a group of school children are eating food.]
- But the truth is, we’re already talking about them.
[Children talk and eat in a lunch hall. Others are working in an art room.]
- Here
- Here
[In a classroom during a lesson, a girl turns to the camera]
- And here
Teacher: Ahem!
[The girl looks sheepish]
- Sorry, Miss
[In a science class, a girl wears protective goggles whilst using a bunsen burner]
- Nevermind maths or chemistry.
[Outside during PE, a teacher points at students.]
Teacher: John, Team B
[One boy has his shoulder nudged as another walks past him. He looks annoyed]
- Or PE
[In an empty room a young girl stands alone against a wall]
- What’s on our mind can be the hardest subject. So ask us what’s on ours.
[A girl leans against a railing]
- A proper chat can ease our stress
- And reduce our anxiety
[A boy in a crowded playground]
- So what are you waiting for?
[In a school gym, a boy stands alone in the centre of a playing court as other children run to him bouncing basketballs.]
- Come on, Britain!
[A little girl at her school desk]
- Get talking
The scene changes to the view from a classroom window, a statistic appears on screen which reads ‘Mental Health has declined in almost 40% of schoolchildren.’
The text on screen reads ‘Britain Get Talking. For more information stv.tv/BritainGetTaking. Supported by Mind, YoungMinds and SAMH.’
In-school Resources
To help get your pupils talking, we've created a homework task and a video from Ant & Dec to play in assemblies. Dr Lucy Maddox, a clinical psychologist, has also shared some practical worksheets to make it easier for young people to open up.
Download Ant & Dec assembly videoAnt & Dec assembly video with British Sign Language
Ant and Dec Assembly video
[Ant and Dec are standing side by side. They are both in suits facing towards the audience. They are against a bright yellow background with the ITV logo in the top corner.]
[Ant and Dec wave to the camera smiling.]
Ant: Hello, everyone
Dec: Hello!
Ant: Ant & Dec here. Now, settle down.
Dec: Settle down.
Dec: (shouting) AT THE BACK, SETTLE DOWN!
[Ant looks slightly shocked as he looks at Dec then back to the camera.]
Dec: There we go, that's better.
[Dec smiles broadly.]
Ant: Wow. Loud, aren’t you?
[Dec looks pleased.]
Dec: I know.
[Dec continues to smile in the background as Ant talks.]
Ant: Now, we're here today with ITV to announce something very special.
Dec: Ooh, special!
Ant: And that something special – homework.
[Dec looks confused as Ant smiles.]
Dec: Ah, I thought you said it was going to be special.
[Ant turns to Dec.]
Ant: No, hang on, hear me out here. It's not what you think.
[Ant turns back to face forward.]
Ant: With this homework, you don't need a calculator and nobody's even marking it. All it involves is talking. And the best thing is, adults have to do this homework, too.
Dec: Oh, I like it. Tell me more.
Ant: Well, it's all about the hardest subject. And that subject isn't maths. It isn't chemistry. It's what's on our minds.
Dec: Yes. You see, the world can be a bit of a scary place right now, can't it? And you might feel anxious about it. In fact, mental health has declined in almost 40% of school children, but when we share more, we can ease our stress and reduce our anxiety.
[Ant and Dec hold up a coloured school jotter. On the front page, there is an image of a speech bubble with lines.]
Ant: So, this is a different kind of homework. It's designed to get us all talking.
Dec: Now, of course, we know that is easier said than done. So, why don't you start by writing or drawing your fears or your feelings in here?
[Ant and Dec both gesture to the speech bubble on the front of the jotter.]
Dec: Then you can share them with a parent or a carer or an adult that you trust – and just talk about it.
Ant: You might be worried about something you saw on the news or overheard someone talking about or something that's happened to your friends.
Dec: Or it might be something else entirely. Whatever it is, there are no wrong answers.
Ant: And you can do it any time you like.
Dec: Just ask your teacher for more information or visit ITV.com/BritainGetTalking if you want to find out more.
Ant: Thanks for listening, everybody.
Dec: Now, come on, Britain.
Both Ant and Dec: Do your homework and get talking!
[On the screen, the text reads ‘Britain Get Talking, supported by Mind and YoungMinds. For more information itv.com/BritainGetTalking]
Top tips for having difficult conversations.
Try having the conversation whilst doing another activity for example the washing up.
Start the conversation with open-ended questions like "What’s on your mind?”
Actively listen and leave room for them to speak. You don’t need to fix all their problems immediately.
Sometimes it helps to share personal stories or experiences to help put them at ease.
If they don’t want to talk, reassure them that the door is always open when they’re ready.
Topics that might come up
As parents, we don’t always have the answers. Here is an alphabetical list of handy guides from our charity partners to help you navigate some of these trickier conversations.
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