Skills for Life: Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing is a 20 hour Skills for Life unit, running from Entry 1 to Level 2, on what good mental health and emotional wellbeing mean, why they matter, asking for and offering support, and trying out and reflecting on wellbeing strategies. It is one unit that learners combine with others into a Skills for Life or Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma. Literacy is central: using wellbeing vocabulary, talking and writing about feelings, asking for and offering support, and comparing strategies. Evidence can be spoken. Numeracy is minimal and not assessed, limited to optional mood or strategy tracking over a few days.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 20
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): Four learning outcomes with assessment criteria at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3 (what good mental health means, ways of taking care of it, showing ways of looking after own or others' mental health, describing own wellbeing). Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours, unit codes S618E1, S618E2 and S618E3.
- Level 1 and Level 2: Four learning outcomes with assessment criteria at Level 1 and Level 2 (what good mental health and emotional wellbeing mean, why it is important to look after them, using support strategies, reflecting on those strategies). Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours, unit codes S618L1 and S618L2.
Skills that use Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
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Using wellbeing vocabulary to describe and explain mental health
Learners say or write what good mental health and emotional wellbeing mean and name factors that affect them, moving from identifying when someone feels well at Entry 1 to describing at Level 1 and explaining with everyday examples at Level 2. This is required by learning outcomes 1 and 2, and the unit overview names applying wellbeing vocabulary as the literacy focus.
Literacy: Clarity and vocabulary, Vocabulary, spelling, grammar
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils build a word bank of feelings words, from happy and worried to frustrated and calm, and match each one to a picture of a situation.
- Year 8
- Pupils write a short paragraph describing what good emotional wellbeing looks like for a pupil starting a new school, using at least four words from the class word bank.
- Year 9
- Pupils explain to a small group what is meant by good mental health, giving everyday examples such as coping with exam pressure, and name two factors that can affect it positively and two negatively.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Level 1 and Level 2, learning outcome 1, assessment criteria 1.1 to 1.3, page 7; Unit overview, page 3
“Explain what is meant by good mental health using everyday examples”
Progression step 3
I can express issues and ideas clearly using area of learning and experience/discipline-specific vocabulary and examples.
I can use varied, appropriate and precise vocabulary including area of learning and experience/discipline-specific words for different purposes.
Progression step 4
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
I have experienced a range of area of learning and experience/discipline-specific and general academic vocabulary, and can use them in my own communication.
Good to know
- The unit has five unit codes, one per level: "Unit Codes S618E1" to S618L2, and it is a 20 guided learning hour Skills for Life unit (Unit overview, page 3).
- Spelling and presentation are not judged and evidence can be spoken: "extended written work is not required unless appropriate" (Sources of evidence, page 13), and evidence can include learner interviews or oral reflections (page 14).
- No special kit is needed: "Assessment of this unit should not require any specific resources" (Resources required for assessment, page 16).
- Suggested activities and assessment tasks are optional: "These tasks are not mandatory" (specification section 4.1, page 18).
- AI tools may be used only if acknowledged: "When properly referenced, this can be acceptable", but copying AI content or failing to acknowledge AI is malpractice (specification section 4.6, page 21).
- Literacy is named in the unit overview, with "opportunities to develop their Literacy skills by applying wellbeing vocabulary, expressing their own views, and opportunities to collaborate in discussions" (page 3). Appendix A of the specification maps Literacy to this unit but not Numeracy (page 28).
Links with other qualifications
GCSE Physical Education and Health asks learners to explore connections between their experiences and mental health, and GCSE Health and Social Care and Childcare covers factors that affect wellbeing and talking openly about mental health, so the vocabulary and reflective writing here carry over. Discussion, debate and writing about feelings also support GCSE English Language and Literature. Within the Skills Suite, the pack names Exercise for all, Healthy lifestyle, Healthy relationships, Looking after others and Wellbeing and work as closely related units. The pack also names the WJEC Pathways to Employment Self Development and Wellbeing qualification.
Source: WJEC Mental health and wellbeing unit delivery and assessment pack, read with the WJEC Entry 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life and Skills for Work specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).