Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2022

Mental health awareness has been at the front of many minds in recent years, with prominent awareness campaigns and an increase in public discussion. However, children's mental health is still often left out of the conversation.

This is something that needs to change - mental health problems can have a serious impact on children and young people's lives, affecting their ability to learn, make friends and cope with everyday life.

Covid-19 and the subsequent national lockdowns inadvertently did a real number on children's mental health and wellbeing.

With schools closed and socialisation at a minimum, many children felt isolated, anxious and lonely - even today, post-global pandemic, the after-effects are still being felt.

What is Children's Mental Health Day?

Children's Mental Health Day is a national campaign that works to raise awareness of children and young people's mental health issues.

The daylong event takes place every year in the UK, typically during the second full week in October.

Children's Mental Health Day was first launched in 2015 by Place2Be, a UK charity that provides emotional support to children and young people.

The campaign was created in response to research that showed that nearly half of all mental health problems in adulthood start before the age of 14.

Since its inception, the campaign has gone from strength to strength, with high-profile supporters such as Prince William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and David Beckham. In 2019, Children's Mental Health Day reached over 10 million people across the UK.

Each year, a theme is chosen and the theme for 2023's campaign is 'Growing Together', chosen to encourage children and young people to face their fears and talk about their mental health.

It is a chance for them to reflect and discuss how they have coped with the challenges of the past year and to look forward to a brighter future.

Why Is Children's Mental Health Day Important?

This year's campaign comes at a vital time, as studies have shown that the pandemic has had a significant impact on children's mental health.

A recent poll by the charity Place2Be found that nearly two-thirds of parents (64%) say their child is more anxious since the pandemic began.

With this in mind, it's more important than ever to start a conversation about mental health with your children.

Here are some tips on how to do just that:

1. Talk openly and honestly about mental health

This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it's important to normalise the discussion by talking about your own experiences with mental health.

This will show your child that it's okay to talk about their feelings and open up about any problems they might be having.

2. Listen without judgement

It's essential that you create a safe space for your child to talk openly and honestly about their mental health.

This means listening without judgement or interruption. If they need help, offer support and advice but let them know that you're always there to listen.

3. Encourage healthy coping mechanisms

Help your child to find healthy ways to cope with their feelings. This could include exercise, journaling or talking to a trusted adult.

It's important to encourage them to find activities that make them feel good and help them to manage their mental health.

4. Seek professional help

If you're worried about your child's mental health, don't hesitate to seek professional help.

Your GP can offer advice and support, and there are many organisations that can provide additional assistance.

Children's Mental Health Day is a vital campaign that raises awareness of the importance of children's mental health.

This year, let's all work together to start the conversation and help our children to grow and thrive.

What Are Some Mental Health Activities?

There are many different mental health activities that can help children and young people to cope with their feelings.

Here are some ideas:

• Exercise; exercise is a great way to release endorphins and improve your mood. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety levels.
• Journaling; writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a therapeutic way to process them. It can also help you to identify any negative thought patterns and find ways to deal with them.
• Relaxation techniques; relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation and deep breathing can help to calm the mind and body. They can also be used to manage stress and anxiety levels.
• Talking to a trusted adult; talking to someone who understands can be a huge help when dealing with mental health issues. If you're worried about your child, don't hesitate to speak to their teacher, doctor or counsellor.

Children's Mental Health Day is a vital campaign that raises awareness of the importance of children's mental health.

This year, let's all work together to start the conversation and help our children to grow and thrive.

How can you get involved?

There are lots of ways that you can get involved in Children's Mental Health Day, whether you are a parent, teacher, professional working with children or a young person yourself.

Here are some ideas:

• Talk about the campaign on social media using the hashtags #ChildrensMentalHealthDay and #GrowingTogether.
• Share your own experiences of mental health issues, either online or with people you know in real life, to help break the stigma surrounding these topics.
• Encourage children and young people in your life to express their feelings and to seek help if they are struggling.
• Talk to your child's school or college about what they are doing to support children's mental health and how you can get involved.
• Organise an event or activity in your community to raise awareness of children's mental health issues.

Wrapping Up:

It's important to have open and honest conversations about mental health from a young age.

Children's Mental Health Day is a great opportunity to start the conversation in your home and help break down the stigma around mental illness.

It's important to remember that every child is different and will need different types of support.

The hope is that by raising awareness of children's mental health, more people will be encouraged to seek help for their children when they need it.

If you're feeling lost or don't know where to start, please reach out for help.

There are many resources available, both on and off-line and we want to make sure that no child/family has to face these challenges alone.

Thank you for reading our blog post, and please share this information with your friends and family members.

Together, we can raise awareness and improve the lives of children everywhere.