About This Lesson
My Life is Worth Living is a mental wellness and suicide prevention series produced by the Cook Center for Human Connection in collaboration with Wonder Media. Each episode models positive coping skills and positive mental wellness techniques. In the Resources tab, you'll find this video in the following languages (in order): English, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, and Japanese.
Character Synopsis: Danny has experienced life-threatening physical trauma after a fire that happened in his home. Now that he is dealing with physical disability and visible physical difference, he is struggling greatly with his sense of self-worth. Before the accident, Danny was a music lover and a jokester, who loved messing with his little brother, Angel, of whom he was also highly protective. Since the accident, he’s lost interest in a lot of the things he used to love. He feels isolated from his now-distant peers and he feels guilty that his family has to see him struggling to adjust to his new life. With the support of his family and medical team, he is learning how to accept his new normal and openly communicate in hard times so that he stays safe and feels connected.
Episode Synopsis: Danny feels increasingly comfortable sharing about his experience after his accident on social media, and in a story, recounts the harrowing challenge that his new therapist put him up to: talking honestly with his friends and family. Reconnecting with Angel, his mom, and his best friends, Danny builds a support system to help him cope with the negative thoughts that have haunted his recovery. He still has changes to adjust to, but his relationships help him remember that he's the same person he was before and that his new “normal” is what he makes it.
In each My Life is Worth Living lesson plan, you will find partner and class discussion prompts, writing prompts, a group activity, and a family resource. This lesson is appropriate for grades 6-12.
