Helper Hand - Support Network Exploration Resource - WMHD2025 - FREE

A creative, hands-on worksheet for children to identify five trusted people, places, or services they can turn to during tricky times. Use alongside our World Mental Health Day 2025 Presentation for Primary Schools.

One of the most important lessons children can learn is that they are never alone - there are always safe people, places, and services ready to support them. The Helper Hand activity gives children a simple, visual way to recognise who those helpers are in their own lives.

By writing or drawing trusted helpers on each finger and thumb of the hand outline, children create a colourful reminder that support is always close by. This free printable resource is perfect for World Mental Health Day 2025, but also works brilliantly as a PSHE activity, homework task, or wellbeing exercise at any point in the year.

Features

• One-page printable worksheet in A4 format.

• Child-friendly hand outline with clear instructions.

• Prompts included to help pupils think of helpers at home, school, and in the wider community.

• Space for creativity - children can write, draw, or decorate their hands.

• Suitable for KS1 and KS2, but can also be adapted for KS3.

• Free to download, print, and share.

About This Resource

The Helper Hand is designed to encourage children to identify their own “safety network.” In the palm of the hand, pupils draw themselves or write their name. On each finger and thumb, they add a trusted person, place, or service that can help them in tricky times - for example, a parent, a teacher, a neighbour, a doctor, or a helpline.

Once completed, children can decorate their hand, cut it out, and display it at home or in the classroom. This creates both a personal reminder and a positive visual display celebrating the many forms of support available.

World Mental Health Day 2025

This year’s theme, “Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies: Access to Services,” has been adapted for younger learners into the simple idea that: “In tricky times, helpers are everywhere.”

The Helper Hand connects directly to this theme by guiding children to think about the people and services that make up their personal network of support. It reinforces the message that even when things feel hard, there are always helpers around.

Benefits

• Helps children identify their trusted adults and support services.

• Reinforces the idea that asking for help is safe and positive.

• Builds emotional literacy and resilience.

• Creates opportunities for discussion about mental health and support.

• Doubles as a creative classroom display for WMHD.

• Free, flexible, and easy to use across different age groups.

How to Use

1. Print a copy of the Helper Hand worksheet for each pupil.

2. Introduce the idea of helpers, asking: Who supports us when life feels tricky?

3. Instruct pupils to draw or write their own name in the palm of the hand.

4. On each finger and thumb, ask them to write or draw one trusted person, place, or service.

5. Encourage decoration — colour, doodles, and patterns to make it personal.

6. Cut out and display the completed hands in the classroom, or let pupils take them home as reminders.

Suggested Uses

• World Mental Health Day assemblies or classroom activities.

• In combination with our World Mental Health Day 2025 Primary School Presentation.

• PSHE and wellbeing lessons on friendship, trust, and support.

• Circle time or group reflection sessions.

• Small group or one-to-one work with pastoral or counselling staff.

• Family engagement - send home as an activity to complete with parents.

The Helper Hand is a free, printable activity that makes mental health awareness fun, accessible, and reassuring for children. By identifying their own five trusted helpers, children gain confidence in knowing where to turn when they need support.

Perfect for World Mental Health Day 2025, this activity is quick to deliver, easy to understand, and powerful in its message: support is always within reach.

Download the free Helper Hand worksheet today and help your pupils recognise the people and services they can rely on. A simple, creative activity that reinforces the vital message of World Mental Health Day: in tricky times, helpers are everywhere.