Help give a voice to children and young people this Children’s Mental Health Week, 5-11 February.
The theme this year is ‘My Voice Matters’.
My Voice Matters is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves. As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s mental health.
Talking to your child about mental health
Children and young people told Place2Be - the charity that run Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week – what they need from their families:
- We don’t need to have ‘one-off conversations about our mental health’ – sometimes a chat on a journey or at bedtime is enough.
- I need to know it’s OK to talk to you about any and all of my feelings. Please hear what I have to say, without interrupting me.
- Please listen to me carefully and acknowledge how I am feeling – it might seem silly to you but what I am going through is important to me.
- Playing with pets can make me feel better. Same with playing football, basketball or whatever type of sport I am into.
- Don’t compare my experiences to your own when you were a child.
- Sometimes I just need you to listen and hear what I’m saying – I don’t always need answers (or lectures).
- Please don’t worry about trying to fix things for me – I often just need to know you are there for me and understand what I am going through.
- If you are open with me about your feelings, this can help me to be more open about mine.
- Sometimes I don’t want to talk. Please trust that I will come to you (or another grown-up or someone my own age) when I’m ready. Sometimes it’s easier for me to talk to someone nearer my own age – my siblings, cousins, friends, younger teachers at school - because they ‘get it’.
- Sometimes a hug is all it takes to make me feel supported.
If you're worried about a child or need advice and support for coping with anything affecting your child's emotional, mental or physical health, please visit the Frimley Healthier Together website for advice and details of a range of local support services.