Children's Mental Health Week
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 tenth year, they hope to encourage more people than ever to get involved and spread the word. The 2024 theme is My Voice Matters and takes place on 5-11th February.
My Voice Matters is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves.
When we feel empowered, there’s a positive impact on our wellbeing. Children who feel that their voices are heard and can make a difference have a greater sense of community and self-esteem. This year, we want children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to be empowered to work together to create a positive change for their mental health and wellbeing.
During Children’s Mental Health Week Place2Be want all children and young people, whoever they are, and wherever they are in the world, to be able to say – and believe - “My Voice Matters”.
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 or button below to access their resources (assembly guides, class activities and top tips for primary and secondary school staff).
LGfL Resources
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 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.
Healthy Minds
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 parents.
Young Minds also has 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.
Look, Think, Do
This LGfL resource 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 their needs.
Amplify
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.
Child Bereavement Toolkit
As part of the ongoing partnership between LGfL and Child Bereavement UK, our Child Bereavement Toolkit brings together a suite of support materials for school communities to manage different aspects of bereavement for young people. The toolkit features three separate but inter-related resources:
Child Bereavement UK are supporting important conservations within school communities with an acknowledgement that young people are managing the consequences of death within their lives. 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.
Free Resources from elsewhere
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
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Young Minds is the UKs leading charity for children and young people’s mental health and offers a huge range of resources
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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
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On My Mind app (Google Play and App Store)
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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
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Young Minds parent support page
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Barnardo’s supporting children and families
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Place 2 Be resources and support for parents and carers
For Everyone
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Mind UK provides support for people with mental health problems
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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
