Children’s Mental Health Week
From the 9th to 15th February, we celebrate Children and Young People’s Mental Health Week. This year we focus on belonging with the theme ‘This is My Place’.
This year is all about helping young people and children feel accepted, valued and have a sense of belonging.
Supportive relationships give children and young people the space to express themselves and explore how they are feeling. The goal of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Week is for all children and young people to be able to say with confidence ‘This is My Place’.
Feeling like you belong in friendships, family, school or other groups is essential for your mental health and wellbeing. Being excluded and feeling left out can be very stressful for children and young people. It can feel isolating, lead to emotional distress and fuel anxious thoughts. In fact, experiencing social exclusion as a child is a major risk factor for poor mental health as an adult. Therefore, encouraging inclusive environments where young people feel accepted, valued and heard is vital for preventing mental health challenges later in life.
For more details on how you can get involved in this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week, visit the official website by Place2Be.
Young People’s Programmes
Did you know that 75% of mental illnesses start before a person’s 18th birthday? We at Change Mental Health understand the importance of taking care of mental health at an early age.
Change Mental Health’s Young People’s Programmes – Your Resilience, Bloom and Me & Money – equip young people with the skills and understanding they need to manage their mental health during key life transitions. Together, these programmes focus on promoting self-awareness in areas such as:
- Recognising strengths and coping strategies: Young people learn to identify what helps them bounce back from challenges.
- Managing anxiety and stress: Reflecting on triggers and developing personal coping mechanisms.
- Navigating social pressures and relationships: Understanding how emotions and behaviours impact friendships and how to build healthier connections.
- Making confident decisions: Exploring values and personal interests to guide choices about education, work and future goals.
“Change Mental Health’s Young People’s Programmes are rooted in the belief that feeling accepted and supported is vital for good mental health and resilience.
“By working with young people themselves, alongside their teachers, youth workers and parents and carers, we support the trusted adults around them to help them feel understood, valued, and experience a strong sense of connection.”
Hannah Dibnah, Service Manager for Young People’s Programmes
Here are three tips to help build inclusive and nurturing environments for young people and children, whether at home, school or other communities:
1. Notice and include those who might be being left out
Pay attention to others who seem lonely or left out. Small actions, like inviting them to play a game, asking for their opinion or inviting them to sit with you, can make a big difference.
2. Listen and take young people’s feelings seriously
Create a safe, non-judgemental space where children and young people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Use open questions to explore what belonging means to them, remember that ‘home’ can be a feeling of safety and support, not just a place.
3. Celebrate both similarities and differences
Encourage children and young people to explore their interests and recognise what makes them unique. Use respectful language and actions that include others and support them to feel confident being themselves. A sense of belonging comes from being accepted for who you are, not from trying to fit in.
If you’re a school or youth organisation, or know of one, that would like to engage with our Young People’s Programmes, email our team.
From there, we will explain how we can work together to support young people’s mental health.
There are so many ways in which you can fundraise for Change Mental Health! Maybe you had an upcoming ‘dress down day’ in your workplace. Or maybe you and your friends want to take part in a fundraising challenge. It’s entirely up to you!
The money you raise can contribute towards building a future where everyone can speak openly about their mental health and receive the support they need, no matter their age. Contact our Fundraising team to learn more, we would be thrilled to hear from you!
support
Our National Advice and Support Service can help you and people you care for with mental health concerns and money worries.
We can link and signpost you to relevant local and national support, including our own Change Mental Health services, as well supporting with debt, grants and benefits.
The service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm to 1.30pm). Contact 0808 8010 515, email advice@changemh.org or fill in the form on the service webpage.
For full details about the service, visit the National Advice and Support Service webpage.
