Each lesson is based around documentary videos which showcase real youth sharing their own experiences of overcoming struggle. Peer role-modeling is clinically proven to help students develop resilience, while also creating a sense of safety in the classroom, enabling students to explore their own experiences of struggle.
Amanda Botic - School Counsellor
Let a Clinical Psychologist do the work! Each video contains teaching points from our founder, Clinical Psychologist Dr Hayley Watson. These concise, targeted messages ensure that the core therapeutic aims and key learning points are clear to students and teachers.
Taura Berg - Director of student services
Each lesson contains partner exercises that enable students to analyze the learning points and practice mental health skills-building exercises. These conversations change the way students interact in other contexts outside of class, minimising the isolation and vulnerability of students when they are struggling with their mental health.
Jenny Williams - Director of Educational Support Services
By running Open Parachute, teachers get a chance to practice fundamental mental health concepts. Alongside their students, teachers learn important skills that not only give them confidence to support the mental health of their students, but also improve their own mental health along the way.
Carol -Ann Leidloff - Director of Instruction
Each program includes time for writing privately about sensitive topics, to assist students in reflecting on the material in the context of their own challenges. Journaling is a powerful tool for positive mental health outcomes, and the program introduces and reinforces this useful habit for students.
Taura Berg - Director of Student Services
Lesson 1: Using Our Words
Lesson 2: Repairing & Apologizing
Lesson 3: Dealing With “No”
Lesson 4: Bringing The Smile Back
Lesson 5: Supporting Others With Feelings
Lesson 1: Noticing Anger & Happiness
Lesson 2: What Do We Do With Negative Thoughts?
Lesson 3: Helping Our Friends With Their Thoughts
Lesson 4: Never Give Up
Lesson 1: What Is Friendship?
Lesson 2: How I Impact My Friends
Lesson 3: Making Better Choices
Lesson 4: Remaining Calm Through Struggle
Lesson 1: Noticing Our Feelings
Lesson 2: It’s Not Your Fault
Lesson 3: STOP Bullying
Lesson 4: Helping With Feelings
Lesson 1: Knowing When Things Are Not OK
Lesson 2: Listen To Your Feelings
Lesson 3: Practice Saying NO
Lesson 4: NO, GO, TELL
Lesson 1: Noticing My Feelings
Lesson 2: Deep Breathing
Lesson 1: Using Our Words
Lesson 2: Repairing & Apologizing
Lesson 3: Dealing With “No”
Lesson 4: Bringing The Smile Back
Lesson 5: Supporting Others With Feelings
Lesson 1: Noticing Anger & Happiness
Lesson 2: What Do We Do With Negative Thoughts?
Lesson 3: Helping Our Friends With Their Thoughts
Lesson 4: Never Give Up
Lesson 1: What Is Friendship?
Lesson 2: How I Impact My Friends
Lesson 3: Making Better Choices
Lesson 4: Remaining Calm Through Struggle
Lesson 1: Noticing Our Feelings
Lesson 2: It’s Not Your Fault
Lesson 3: STOP Bullying
Lesson 4: Helping With Feelings
Lesson 1: Knowing When Things Are Not OK
Lesson 2: Listen To Your Feelings
Lesson 3: Practice Saying NO
Lesson 4: NO, GO, TELL
Lesson 1: Getting To Know My Feelings
Lesson 1: Thinking Positive Thoughts
Lesson 2: Encouragement For Difficult Tasks
Lesson 3: Helping Our Worries
Lesson 1: Roles & Responsibilities
Lesson 2: Managing Big Reactions
Lesson 3: Making Helpful Choices
Lesson 4: Voicing My Needs
Lesson 1: Knowing When Things Are Not OK
Lesson 2: Listen To Your Feelings
Lesson 3: Practice Saying NO
Lesson 4: NO, GO, TELL
Lesson 1: Likes & Dislikes
Lesson 2: Asking Nicely
Lesson 3: Taking Space
Lesson 4: Stopping The Cycle
Lesson 1: Reflecting On My Actions
Lesson 2: Speaking Clearly
Lesson 3: Apologies
Lesson 4: Setting Boundaries
Lesson 5: Noticing Positive Friendship Qualities
Lesson 1: What Makes Up a Family?
Lesson 2: NO, GO, TELL
Lesson 3: Dumping Our Feelings
Lesson 4: Helping The Worries Leave Our Bodies
Lesson 1: Making Friends
Lesson 2: Bullying
Lesson 3: Expressing My Feelings
Lesson 4: Boundaries For Positive Interaction
Lesson 1: The Skill Of “Walking Away”
Lesson 2: Soothing Our Anger
Lesson 3: What To Do When Things Are Hard
Lesson 4: The Power To Change Things
Lesson 1: Accepting Differences
Lesson 2: Calming Our Worries
Lesson 3: Understanding My Emotions
Lesson 4: Coping Strategies
Lesson 5: Support & Inclusivity
Lesson 6: Learning From Each Other
Lesson 1: Talking About Our Worries
Lesson 2: BIG Worries
Lesson 3: Dealing With Grief & Loss
Lesson 4: Changing Our Thoughts
Lesson 1: Friendship Challenges
Lesson 2: Being A Good Listener
Lesson 3: Setting Boundaries
Lesson 4: Talking About Mental Health
Lesson 1: Expressing Our True Feelings
Lesson 2: Perspective Taking
Lesson 3: Questioning For Clarity
Lesson 1: Worrying & Self-Doubt
Lesson 2: Coping With The Feelings of Others
Lesson 3: What Makes Us Feel Good?
Lesson 4: Social Media & Self-Doubt
Lesson 1: Bullying: Definition & Types
Lesson 2: Unhelpful Thought Patterns of Reaction
Lesson 3: Using Empathy & Independent Thinking
Lesson 4: Setting Healthy Boundaries with Peers
Lesson 1: Really, Really Hard Things
Lesson 2: It’s Not Your Fault
Lesson 3: Building Resilience
Lesson 1: Understanding & Soothing Our Worries
Lesson 2: Physical Reactions To Stress
Lesson 3: Cycles of Reaction
Lesson 4: Things We Can & Can’t Control
Lesson 1: Exploring Uniqueness
Lesson 2: Understanding Bullying & Forming Positive Connections
Lesson 3: Supporting Ourselves
Lesson 4: STOP Bullying
Lesson 5: Addictive Patterns
Lesson 1: Managing Anger
Lesson 2: Dealing With Mixed Emotions
Lesson 3: Family Violence
Lesson 4: Common Struggles
Lesson 1: Dealing With A Major Loss
Lesson 2: Managing Sudden Changes
Lesson 3: Dealing With Grief
Lesson 4: Supporting Myself
Lesson 1: When Friendship Is Challenging
Lesson 2: Negative Self-Talk
Lesson 3: Making New Friends
Lesson 4: Positive Friendships (Online & IRL)
Lesson 1: Recognizing Stereotypes & Setting Boundaries
Lesson 2: Negative & Positive Self-Talk
Lesson 3: Asking For Help & Giving Support
Lesson 4: Building Self-Esteem
Lesson 1: Taking Care Of Our Feelings
Lesson 2: Anxiety: Fight/Flight/Freeze/Please
Lesson 3: Breaking Anxious Habits
Lesson 4: Raising Awareness For Others
Lesson 1: Shifting Focus (What I Can & Can’t Control)
Lesson 2: Changing Our Thoughts About Learning
Lesson 3: Trauma & The Way Our Brain Changes
Lesson 4: Trauma Patterns
Lesson 5: Changing Our Story
Lesson 1: Overcoming Stereotypes & Respecting Others
Lesson 2: The Challenge of Trying To Fit In
Lesson 3: Choosing Helpful Thoughts
Lesson 4: Boosting Our Self-Esteem & Finding Joy
Lesson 1: Understanding Bullying
Lesson 2: Setting Boundaries
Lesson 3: Being Accountable For Creating Change
Lesson 1: Exploring Privileges
Lesson 2: The Impacts of Trauma
Lesson 3: Fight, Flight, Freeze
Lesson 4: Raising Awareness About Mental Health
Lesson 1: Empathy & Listening Skills
Lesson 2: Recognizing Harm & Understanding Angry Reactions
Lesson 3: Normalizing Feelings & Practicing Self-Soothing
Lesson 4: Volunteering & Supporting Others
Lesson 1: Speaking Up About Abuse
Lesson 2: Complex Emotions & The Impacts of Abuse
Lesson 3: Supporting Each Other
Lesson 4: Online Abuse
Lesson 1: Creating Inclusion
Lesson 2: Self-Beliefs & Realistic Thinking Strategies
Lesson 3: Understanding The Actions of Others
Lesson 4: The Things I Can & Can’t Control
Lesson 1: Body Image & Growing Pains
Lesson 2: Stereotypes & Comparisons
Lesson 3: Trying To ‘Fit In’
Lesson 4: Overcoming Stereotypes (On & Offline)
Lesson 1: Managing Stress
Lesson 2: The Expectations of Others
Lesson 3: Online Influences & Gender Norms
Lesson 4: Parties, Consent & Substances
Lesson 1: Trauma & The Brain
Lesson 2: Counteracting Trauma & Stress Responses
Lesson 3: Volunteering & Supporting Others
Lesson 4: Advocating For My Own Mental Health
Lesson 1: Counteracting Cultural Messages
Lesson 2: Managing Insecurities
Lesson 3: The Power of Honesty
Lesson 4: Listening To My True Feelings
Lesson 1: Harmful Actions & Sexual Responsibility
Lesson 2: Exploring Boundaries
Lesson 3: Power Imbalances
Lesson 4: Overcoming Barriers & Finding Power
Lesson 1: Aggression & Making Assumptions
Lesson 2: The Impacts of Trauma & Prejudice
Lesson 3: Stress Responses
Lesson 4: Self-Reflection & Raising Awareness
Lesson 1: Bullying & Group Mentality
Lesson 2: Groups & Consent
Lesson 3: The Impacts of Porn & Online Images
Lesson 4: Being A Part Of The Solution
Lesson 1: Analyzing Cultural Patterns
Lesson 2: Bullying & Online Aggression
Lesson 3: Criticism & Self-Critical Thoughts
Lesson 4: Body Image
Lesson 5: Making Changes
Lesson 1: Accepting Others
Lesson 2: Practicing Empathy
Lesson 3: Self-Acceptance
Lesson 4: Offering Support
Lesson 1: Active Listening
Lesson 2: Unhelpful Responses
Lesson 3: Supporting Others
Lesson 4: Creating Safe Spaces
Lesson 1: Setting Boundaries
Lesson 2: Reactions
Lesson 3: Understanding & Reflecting
Lesson 4: Noticing Our Power
Lesson 1: The Hard Things
Lesson 2: Fight, Flight, Freeze
Lesson 3: Mental Health & Isolation
Lesson 4: Helping Ourselves
Lesson 1: Loneliness
Lesson 2: Numbing Our Pain
Lesson 3: Choices
Lesson 4: Issues of Consent
Lesson 5: Unhelpful Patterns
Lesson 6: Self-Reflection
Lesson 1: Differences
Lesson 2: ‘Perfection’ & ‘Failure’
Lesson 3: True Strength
Lesson 4: Self-Advocacy
Lesson 1: Unconscious Bias
Lesson 2: Pressure & Gangs
Lesson 3: Growth & Change
Lesson 4: Consent & Power
Lesson 5: Making Meaning
Lesson 1: Self-Beliefs
Lesson 2: Responding To Negativity
Lesson 3: Changing Patterns
Lesson 4: Self-Awareness
Lesson 1: Repeated Trauma
Lesson 2: Depression
Lesson 3: Patterns of Trauma
Lesson 1: I Need To Be “Fixed”
Lesson 2: Avoidance
Lesson 3: Noticing
Lesson 4: Mental Health Support
Lesson 1: The Stress of Leaving School
Lesson 2: Past Trauma & New Challenges
Lesson 3: Letting Go
Lesson 4: Embracing The Future
Lesson 1: Coping With Loss
Lesson 2: Addictive Patterns
Lesson 3: Displaced Emotions
Lesson 4: Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zone
Lesson 1: Violations of Consent
Lesson 2: Post-Trauma
Lesson 3: Objectification
Lesson 4: Healthy Relationships
Lesson 1: Building Empathy
Lesson 2: Stereotypes & Bias
Lesson 3: Creating Change
