Mental Health and SEL Assembly
The Big Head Bob mental health and SEL assembly gives students simple tools for big feelings: naming what they feel, calming down, and bouncing back when something goes wrong. Author David Bradley leads it live, in person or virtually, and it follows the CASEL framework most schools already use.
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What students practice
- Naming feelings: putting words to anxiety, anger, and self doubt
- Calming down: the square breathing kids see in the books, and Bob's mantra, "Be calm, be kind, and take a deep breath"
- Growth mindset: turning the thing that makes you feel different into a strength
- Talking about it: a live Q&A where students ask David their own questions
Humor, stories, and cartoons do the heavy lifting, so hard topics come up without anyone feeling lectured. That is why teachers started calling Bob the mental health mascot.
Built around CASEL
Every Big Head Bob book and lesson follows the five CASEL competencies: self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. The assembly drops into an existing SEL block, morning meeting, or PBIS plan without extra work. Here is how it lines up with PBIS and SEL standards.
Elementary through college
With younger students, the session is built on the picture books. With middle school, high school, and college audiences, David moves off the books and onto mental health, resilience, and building something out of the thing that made you feel different. His book Surviving College: Navigating Education and Mental Health, written with college students, launched at Stanford University in 2025.
Does one assembly make a difference?
Research on single session mental health programs for young people has found real benefits, and pairing a strong session with follow up works better than either one alone. Our research summary walks through the studies.
Follow up tools
- Breathe with Bob: a free two minute classroom reset with three breathing patterns
- Free Classroom Kit: an SEL lesson plan, mindfulness printables, and coloring pages
- Bob All Year: a 36 week SEL video curriculum, no scheduling required
Quick facts
- Topics: feelings, calming strategies, growth mindset, confidence, and resilience
- Framework: CASEL
- Grades: K-12 and college, with the talk adapted to each age
- Formats: in person assembly, up to three sessions a day, or virtual visit from $99
- Busiest month: May, Mental Health Awareness Month
Frequently asked questions
What is an SEL assembly?
An assembly that teaches social emotional learning: how to name feelings, calm down, get along with other people, and keep going after something goes wrong.
Is a mental health assembly okay for young kids?
Yes. For elementary students it is built on picture books, humor, and cartoons, so topics like anxiety come up in a way kids can handle.
Do you speak to high school and college students?
Yes. With older students the session shifts from story time to mental health, resilience, and turning what made you feel different into something you build on.
How much does a mental health assembly cost?
In person assemblies are quoted by group size, number of sessions, and travel, and usually run from several hundred dollars to a few thousand. A virtual visit for one class starts at $99.
When is the best time to book?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and fills up fast, along with October and March. A couple of months of notice is comfortable.
What can teachers do after the assembly?
Use Breathe with Bob as a daily calm down tool, and the free Classroom Kit for follow up lessons.
Plan your mental health and SEL assembly
Tell us your school, grade levels, and preferred dates, and David will reply with availability and exact pricing.