Children's Health & Well-Being
Mental Health 2024
Children's Mental Health Week is a mental health awareness week that empowers, equips and gives a voice to all children and young people in the UK.
Children’s Mental Health Week starts (5-11 February) pupils in Lumbertubs Primary school will again be taking part in activities to get them talking about mental health. Embracing this year’s theme: ‘My voice matters’, There is a lot of support available via apps, text services, community organisations and health services for children, young people and families who are looking for support for either themselves, a friend, or for their child or relative.
These include:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS Connect): Open 9am to 7pm – 0300 1111 022.
- Text your school nurse: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm – 07507 329600.
- Text SHOUT to 85258. Available 24 hours.
- Speak to Childline on 0800 1111. Available 24 hours.
- Speak to the Samaritans on 116 123. Available 24 hours.
- Use apps such as Calm Harm, Clear Fear, Move Mood or Teens.
My self-care plan
Just as we look after our physical health, it’s important to look after our mental health.
Self-care is all about what you can do to help yourself feel better or to keep yourself feeling good. It’s a way that we can look after our own mental health and wellbeing. It can help your body and mind to relax, drift away, or be more energised.
This self-care plan walks primary-aged children through a series of steps, helping them create a simple self-care plan that works for them. It helps children identify activities that they can use to support their mental health.
Some of the suggested self-care activities include:
- music and dance
- mindfulness
- art
The resource was co-written by Anna Freud Centre experts and young people, who shared ideas on self-care strategies that work for them.
Advice for supporting a friend
When a friend opens up to you about how they are feeling, or tells you about something they are struggling with, you might find the conversation tough and it can feel difficult to know what to say. This reaction is normal. It shows you care for that person and want to help them - it’s part of our nature to want to support others and this is something you should be proud of.
However sometimes, when we are supporting our friends we can take on a lot of stress. You might feel like it’s your responsibility alone to help them. But there are ways you can help your friend, and find people who can support you too so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and under pressure.
Remember, it’s not all on you
Activities to support children at home
Go on a scavenger hunt
This is a fun idea for children of all ages. You can keep it really simple for little ones - help them look out for different colours or textures in nature. For older children, challenge them to hunt for seasonal signs such as spring blossom or new leaves. Or ask them to see how many tiny natural objects they can find to fit inside a matchbox.
Make an animal or forest out of Lego
Many families will have Lego, wooden blocks or other building toys at home. So challenge your kids to make something inspired by nature. You could all work together to make one big scene, like a springtime woodland or a giant tree. Or you could have a contest to see who can build the best minibeast, mammal or bird
Write a story inspired by woods and trees
If your children love writing, then get those creative juices flowing with a story challenge. Kick things off by giving them the first sentence and encouraging them to write the rest of the story.
You could also jot ideas on scraps of paper, then get kids to choose some at random that they have to incorporate into their story. These could include:
- A tree has fallen in the woods
- A character has gone missing
- An animal is shouting an alarm call
- There are some mysterious footprints to follow.
Gather together as a family and share the stories you've written. They'll make great bedtime stories too when you've read all the books you have at home.
Supermovers have numerous videos that will get your children active. The videos link to the curriculum so will keep the children active whilst still learning at home.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers
Childline Tool Box has a calm zone where you can access activities, breathing exercises, yoga, games and videos on ways to cope and expressing emotion
NSPCC interactive lesson