Let's all be Mentally Aware

9th Feb 2018

Today is Northamptonshire Mental Health Awareness Day and all of our children in Key Stage 3 will receive resources from the Talk Out Loud initiative. We all have mental health - the term simply describes what we think and feel and how we cope with those thoughts and feelings but difficulties with mental health are estimated to affect 1 in 10 children and young people with some of those difficulties beginning in the Primary school years. That’s three children with a diagnosable mental health difficulty in each classroom and yet stigma surrounding the term means that often young people feel unable to seek help.

The emotional wellbeing of our children is just as important as their physical health and there are lots of very positive things that can be done to help our children develop the resilience they need to cope with whatever life throws at them.

Please do look at the leaflets with your child and talk through some of the points raised. Help them to be able to name their feelings and maybe do some of the relaxing activities suggested together. The Mental Health Foundation has lots of information on the things we can do each day to promote good mental health in our children (www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/children-and-young-people) and is well worth a look.

Please support Northamptonshire Mental Health Awareness Day and let's teach our children how to Talk Out Loud about their feelings.

As our children go through the ups and downs of life, it’s important that they know it is ok to ask for help – for themselves or for a friend – and that they know where to go to get that help. There are lots of online organisations offering advice for promoting emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Here are just a few: