Mental Health Awareness Week - This Year’s Theme Is Kindness

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s important to reflect on this year’s theme of kindness and how it plays into managing the mental health and wellbeing of our children and ourselves.

Realising that your child may be struggling with their mental health and experiencing anxiety or depression can be hard to accept. Sometimes parents can feel like it’s their fault or want to know why their child is struggling with a mental health problem. This is completely understandable, but the most important thing you can do is to reassure your child and not judge them for how they’re feeling.

Lockdown is impacting children, and their mental health, in many ways. Some may feel trapped indoors, or lonely from not seeing their friends, teachers, and family as often as they used to. Others may be anxious about the virus, and some may just feel upset by how overwhelming the whole situation is.

The coping techniques that children normally use to boost their wellbeing are no longer available to them. Their routines have been turned upside down, and they have lost many of their social events and support systems.

Remember, you can always signpost children to Childline. They can call for free on 0800 1111, or go online at Childline.org.uk for a 1-2-1 chat. There, they can also use the message boards or Calm zone as resources to help them support themselves.

It’s also important to be kind to yourself. I’ve already mentioned how it can be difficult to accept that a child is struggling, but it’s also a challenge to support them through it. That’s why it’s key that you take care of yourself and get support if you need to, even if that is just by talking to a friend or family member.

For further support and advice, contact our helpline to speak to one of our counsellors.

You can call us for free on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

Helen Westerman

Head of Safeguarding in Communities at the NSPCC