Ison Harrison Solicitors are spreading the word about Children’s Mental Health Week which runs from 6 – 12 February 2023.
What is Children’s Mental Health Week?
Children’s Mental Health Week was first launched in 2015 by Place2Be to shine a light on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.
1 in 6 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health condition and this week is all about raising awareness and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health in children and young people.
Who are Place2Be?
Place2Be are a children’s mental health charity that provides counselling and mental health support and training in over 500 schools across England, Scotland and Wales. Their Parenting Smart website provides practical tips for parent, carers and families on how to support children’s wellbeing.
Their mission is to improve children and young people’s mental health and they believe that no child or young person should have to face mental health problems alone. Their vision is for all children and young people to have the support that they need to build lifelong coping skills, and thrive.
What is this year’s theme?
This year, the theme is ‘Let’s Connect’, where the focus is about making meaningful and healthy connections with family, friends and others. Meaningful connections can support our mental health and sense of wellbeing, and help to prevent loneliness and isolation, which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
There are a number of ways to connect with others, and Place2Be are encouraging us to connect with our families, friends and communities in meaningful ways both in person and online.
Place2Be have created resources to help our families explore the theme and to connect with our children and help them to make meaningful connections. We can do this by:
- Connecting with our children in everyday ways
- Talking to our children about important connections
- Talking to our children about their friends
- Connecting by taking an interest in our children’s world
- Finding time to connect as a family
- Trying to resolve conflict and re-connect after arguments
Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. Not only can we connect with our family and friends, but we can also make connections with others by joining in with activities in the wider community such as by joining a choir, sports team, or volunteering.
What resources are available to help children and young people connect with others during Children’s Mental Health Week?
Place2Be have a variety of free resources to help you take part in the week. All of their ideas can be adapted for use in school, at home, online, or independent learning.
The resources available have been helpfully categorised into activities for primary-age children (under 11), and those children of secondary school age (over 11). They include:
- Top tips and activity ideas for families;
- Top tips for parents and carers;
- Video activities;
- Taskmaster Education (which gives children and young people the opportunity to play Taskmaster across the country with thousands of children at the same time).
The above resources (and more), along with further information about Place2Be and their Children’s Mental Health Week can be accessed via their website: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
