Place2Be (a children’s mental health charity) launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Now in its ninth year, they hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word. This year's theme is Let's Connect and takes place on 6-12th February 2023.
Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during Children’s Mental Health Week – and beyond. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing.
When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
Watch their video below to learn more about the theme.
Every year, Place2Be’s expert team develops resources to help people participate in the week. From activity ideas and assembly guides to top tips and videos, their free resources will help you explore mental health and wellbeing with the children and young people around you.
Click here to access their resources (assembly guides, class activities and top tips for primary and secondary school staff).
Same Storm, Different Boats
Over the past few years we have all been in the same storm but in different boats, experiencing a wide range of thoughts and feelings. There is no doubt that this may have negatively impacted on people’s wellbeing and mental health.
For many pupils (and school staff), technology has been fantastic in enabling us to stay connected with loved ones, provided a platform for online learning and to gain access to wellbeing resources, however, we should recognise that everyone’s needs are different. Some may have experienced feelings of loneliness through isolation in lockdown. Others maybe anxious about navigating the new world ahead. Whatever you are feeling right now, please know that you are not alone and that there is always help available.
Young Minds Matter
We need to create a vision for recovery where every child and young person is seen, heard and their feelings validated. Young people have experienced loss in many forms throughout these times, we now need to bridge the gap of opportunity for repair.
We know that good mental health can have a great impact on the life outcomes of young people. We also know the benefits of connecting with others though social activities and achievements. The Princes Trust offer the opportunity for young people to stretch and grow through their programmes of life experiences.
Here are some tips to encourage a child’s positive mental health:
- Observe – is the child or young person acting differently?
- Communicate – encourage communication and offer opportunities to check in with their emotional temperature
- Encourage – provide coping mechanisms for when they are feeling overwhelmed
- Sleep – make sure the young person is getting good quality sleep
- Listen – to understand and not necessarily to respond
- Reach Out – don’t be afraid to ask for help from a GP, others in school or specialist service
- Praise – remind young people of their accomplishments and strengths
- Educate – help children and young people learn about the signs of mental health and remind them of how they can get help
The Five Ways to Wellbeing researched and developed by The New Economics Foundation is a great way to explore ways to look after our mental health and wellbeing. Start taking action with your pupils today by getting them to list the things that they can do to Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning and Give.
LGfL have a range of resources that can support you during this week and beyond:
LGfL's Wellbeing Connected for primary schools resource has been designed to bring the key information featuring experienced practitioners through video and text format with a quick and accessible interface.
The resource is grouped into the following areas:
- Why Wellbeing?
- Staff Wellbeing
- Pupil Wellbeing
- Community Wellbeing
- Whole School Approach
- Resources and Further Links
The portal is designed to be used by staff within schools to plan their whole school approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing and how all parts of the school community can be supported. The expert video clips, information packs and carefully curated external links are provided for staff to deliver comprehensive support. Alongside videos, there are also template policies, wellbeing questionnaires and guidance for schools to use and adapt as well as thinking points that can be used as part of staff development looking at the importance of wellbeing for staff, the community and for the video below the importance of Mental Health and Wellbeing for pupils.
LGfL's Healthy Minds was produced in partnership with the leading mental health charity for young people - Young Minds. The resource features a range of teacher led activities involving group work promoting self reflection and video content with supporting activities. The main activities are designed for use with learners in upper KS2, KS3 and KS4 with some resources designed for use by staff and/or for parents.
The resource is split into the following sections:
- Mental Health and Resilience Activities For Young People
- Mental Health and Resilience Resources For Staff
- No Harm Done - materials for staff, parents and young people
- Handy Websites and Apps
Young Minds also have a range of resources to support schools. Their 360° schools programme helps you to put wellbeing at the heart of your schools’ improvement. By joining their YoungMinds 365° Schools’ Community, you’ll receive free tips, advice and handy resources straight to your inbox.
As part of the ongoing partnership between LGfL and Child Bereavement UK, our Bereavement Toolkit brings together a suite of support material for school communities to manage different aspects of bereavement for young people. The toolkit features three separate but inter-related resources:
- Managing a Sudden Death in a School Community
- Supporting a Bereaved Pupil
- Having Honest Conversations About Death and Grief
Covid 19 has sadly brought about increased death and grief to many people’s lives and children are no exception; we have worked with the team at Child Bereavement UK to produce the new resource (Having Honest Conversations About Death and Grief) which aims to boost confidence for staff in having conversations in school with young people about death and grief. Although there is some direct reference to the impact and consequences of Covid 19 – the resource is broader in its scope; supporting important conservations within school communities with an acknowledgement that young people are managing the consequences of death within their lives that can be both related and unrelated to Covid. It is important that for whatever reason, young people are supported sensitively and appropriately as they come to terms with the impact this will have on their lives.
Look, Think, Do contains a range of editable social stories that can be used within the class, with groups or individual students . These resources facilitate social development by using reduced language, visual support and images, structure and small steps, a positive focus, and, when appropriate, choice. The photo-based, visual resource is divided into four key sections: Learning to Play; Learning to Say; Learning to Change and Learning to Help Myself. Editable storyboards bring difficult situations to life in a non-threatening manner and enable pupils to discuss solutions and strategies, and alternative and ideal endings. This can have a positive effect on the choices they make and the way they communicate thier needs.
Also one of the themes for LGfL's Amplify is Wellness. The goal of Amplify is to support creative activities that promote critical reflection and honest conversation within school communities, enabling all members (whatever their age) to engage with issues that matter to them. For the theme "Wellness" we want students to examine and explore what can be done to ensure people look after themselves both physically and mentally. See the page for suggested activities and do remember to submit your pupils' completed work too.
For school staff, our Mental Health and Wellbeing portal is intended to support schools to develop a positive culture and talk about "mental wealth". The videos explore the range of unique training opportunities offered to the LGfL community to support schools wherever they are currently on their journey regarding mental health and wellbeing for both staff and pupils. Why not take a look?
Adobe Digital Leaders Sessions
Aimed at 9-13 year olds, over 90 minutes, Adobe are offering sessions where they will be using Adobe Express to create different pieces of digital media that you can showcase to other classes, friends and family! Two such sessions are as follows:
- Thurs 2nd Feb @ 1.15 - 2.45pm = Safer Internet Day + Children’s Mental Health Day
- Tues 7th Feb @ 1.15 - 2.45pm = Safer Internet Day + Children’s Mental Health Day
Schools can bring as many pupils as they like to the session as long as they have access to a device. Sign up to reserve a place for your school.
Other resources that can support you during this week and beyond:
The Islington Mental Health and Resilience in Schools resource (iMAHRS) sets out the components of school practice and ethos that effectively develop resilience, promote positive mental health and support children at risk of, or experiencing, mental health problems. You can view the framework here (shown below too):
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has a range of resources for schools, including some fantastic booklets that look at supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools. The website also features a fantastic talking mental health animation (see below) along with a teacher toolkit to help begin conversations about mental health in the classroom and beyond.
Mentally Healthy Schools is where schools can find a range of expert and practical information and resources to help all staff understand, promote and deal confidently with children’s mental health issues. It includes jargon-free information on what can undermine and what can help emotional wellbeing; tips and strategies to help; and specific advice on vulnerable groups.
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust is a charity that hosts a free mental health book club for school mental health leads. Schools can opt in to receive a book and accompanying resources once a term. These aim to enhance the skills, confidence and knowledge of those who work with children and young people, by providing them with resources they can use to promote positive mental health. The trust has also produced two excellent lists of book recommendations for both a primary and secondary wellbeing library as well as a model policy for schools to use. They have also produced a series of webinars that staff can use. The sessions cover a wide variety of topics and offer plenty of practical advice and signpost recommended resources.
Reach Out for Further Help:
For Children and Young People
- Young Minds is the UKs leading charity for children and young people’s mental health and offers a huge range of resources
- Childline is a free, confidential service where children can talk about anything. It offers a host of help and information and this includes a Calm Zone
- On My Mind app (Google Play and App Store)
- The Mix in partnerships with the Heads Together campaign supports the under 25’s with a wide range of resources including helplines
For Parents and Carers
- Young Minds parent support page
- Barnardo’s supporting children and families
- Place 2 Be resources and support for parents and carers
For Everyone
- Mind UK provides support for people with mental health problems
- The Samaritans a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year support line
- Every Mind Matters is the NHS online tool that gives simple and practical advice to get a healthier mind and to get more out of life
If you are taking part in Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we would love to hear from you on our Twitter or Facebook pages. Please use #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #LetsConnect.