Children’s Mental Health Week
This week (6th – 12th February) is Children’s Mental Health Week; and we’re proud to be supporting the annual campaign run by Place2Be. Place2Be is the UK’s leading provider of school-based mental health support. They launched the first campaign back in 2015 to help shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.
The theme for this years campaign is ‘Let’s Connect’. 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.
For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we’re encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways.
Improving Children’s Mental Health
Here are some helpful tips for improving children’s mental health:
1. Encourage open communication. Make sure children feel comfortable talking to you about their concerns, worries, and feelings.
2. Spend quality time together. Spend time with your child doing activities they enjoy, such as playing a game or going for a walk.
3. Promote positive self-esteem. Help your child to develop a positive outlook on life and to be proud of their own unique traits and abilities.
4. Practice healthy habits. Encourage healthy eating habits, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
5. Provide a safe and supportive environment. Make sure your home is a safe, secure, and positive environment for your child.
6. Teach problem-solving skills. Help your child to learn problem-solving skills to help them deal with difficult situations.
7. Keep an eye out. Be aware of any changes in your child’s behavior, mood, or attitude.
8. Seek professional help. If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
BAFTA’s Let’s Connect – Video Series
BAFTA’s Let’s Connect is a short film series that has been created for Children’s Mental Health Week. BAFTA’s Young Presenters, aged between 12 and 17, sat down with creative talent to explore this year’s theme of ‘Let’s Connect’.
Conversations ranged from who you feel closest to; is it ok to let relationships go; how creativity helps you to connect with others and what brings you closer to people you don’t know.
Click the link below to watch the videos!
BAFTA’s Let’s Connect – Video Series
More Resources
You can head over to Place2Be’s website and find lots of resources available for families and especially young people who might be struggling with their mental health. There are tips to help families explore the ‘Let’s Connect’ theme at home; as well as a selection of activities to do with children and young people aged 4+. Access the link below for more information.
You can also access Place2Be’s advice hub built just for parents and carers. It includes tried and tested tips for those with primary-age children, developed by mental health experts. There are over 40 different topics that you can explore and learn about. Follow the link below for more.
At this time of year there are lots of young people preparing for their exams. This can leave some teens feeling overwhelmed and stressed. This really helpful blog post from MyTutor explores some of the different signs of burnout in teens and what you can do to help them cope with it. Click the link below to read more.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch, you can call, text or WhatsApp Rachael on 07938 575 738; or send an email to foster@lorimerfostering.com. If you would prefer us to call you, please submit your details using the form below; and we’ll get back to you soon!
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