Children's Mental Health Week

As part of Children's Mental Health Week we've put together activities and support for children and their parents/carers about the importance of mental wellbeing. This years theme is ‘Express Yourself’. Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share thoughts, ideas and feelings through being creative, anything from drawing, dance, photography to craft. Any activity that makes you feel good.

Talking openly about mental health and emotional wellbeing from a young age, children can learn to better understand their emotions, break down stigma, and feel safe enough to reach out for help when its needed. It can be difficult to open up about our feelings and also difficult to start those difficult conversations with the children in our lives. 

These links below are great to use as part of your homeschooling or just generally to start to get children and young people to understand and think about their own mental health.

• The Worry Monster Story- A read aloud video, great for younger children!
• Primary and secondary age mental health resources- Place2be
• Teaching Mental Health- Anne Freud Centre
• Opening Up About Mental Health- MIND-A helpful read for older children about who and how they can talk to about their feelings
• 5 day self love challenge- A great stop start activity that helps young people build up their confidence.
• Calming Noises for little ones- Great to have one whilst talking about mindfulness, colouring or as you all sit together.
• Cosmic Kids Yoga- A wonderful Youtube channel full of videos about yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for children.
• Headspace- Meditation, relaxation and sleep resources.!
• Childline's Calm Zone has activities, exercises and games all designed to make you feel calmer. 

How We Could Help

We  provide a children and young peoples emotional wellbeing service. A free service for children & young people experiencing,

-Low mood
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Phobia's

If you live in Stockton, Hartlepool & some parts of East Durham and are up to the age of 18 we could help. Whether you are a parent worried about your child or perhaps a young person wanting some support you can ring 01429 891 444 to find out more.

There are lots of other organisations that could help too.