Children's Mental Health Week

Children's mental health is just as important as their physical health, with 90% of brain growth happening within the first 5 years of life.

As educational practitioners, there is now increasing information and approaches being brought into settings as both preventative and supporting measures for children?s mental health. Many schools are opting to give their staff ?Trauma Informed Teaching? training, which not only raises awareness as to how mental health challenges can present in children, but also resiliency building methods and nurture-based approaches for prevention.

The impact on Children's daily lives

1. Mental health issues can significantly impact a child's ability to learn, make friends, and even their physical health. It's important that educational practitioners are aware of how to address these issues early on to help children have a happy and healthy childhood.?

Early intervention

2. Neural pathways form through experience, and so by reducing a child?s exposure to trauma and allowing them to feel safe in their learning environment will reduce the likelihood of recurring mental health challenges in adulthood. 

The impact of the pandemic

3. Since Covid-19, there has been unprecedented demand for more mental health support within schools to help manage the trauma of lockdowns, deaths and illness within the families etc. This includes creating nurturing spaces, safe spaces and encouraging open and judgement-free communication. 

Mental health issues are more common than we think, especially post-pandemic, and it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms to be able to provide support to children who need it.?More often than not, if a child is presenting behaviour that challenges, it may be that there are emotional needs that need to be met.

Break the stigma

5. It?s important to create awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health. Incorporating staff-wide understanding of how it may present itself, open and judgement-free communication language, and safeguarding procedures to escalate when need be.

Just like physical health, mental health is essential for a child's overall well-being and should not be overlooked. Depending on your setting and SENDCO, you may choose to keep a record for children who are needing extra support. This may support any applications to external agencies if necessary. 

It's never too early to learn

7. While mental health issues may not be as visible as physical health issues, it's never too early to learn about mental health and how to take care of it. By starting early, we can help children develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms that will serve them well throughout their lives.?

Children's Mental Health Week is an important reminder to focus on the mental well-being of our children and to provide them with the support and resources they need to thrive. By creating awareness, having supportive measures in place and breaking the stigma, we can help children to lead happy and healthy lives.? 

Wilbert Howells is our Head of Staff Wellbeing, and as such he will be sharing his tips and tricks for wellbeing improvement throughout this academic year.

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