Let’s connect this Children’s Mental Health Week

In 2015, Place2Be created the nation’s first Children’s Mental Health Week. The aim of the week is to shine a spotlight on the importance of young people’s mental health.

This year, Children’s Mental Health Week begins on Monday 6 February, and the theme is ‘Let’s Connect’.

Meaningful connections are important for people of all ages. People thrive in communities and feeling a part of something is vital for our wellbeing.

Place2Be explained that “When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.”

To get involved this Children’s Mental Health Week, we connected with our Humber Youth Action Group, to hear about how they deal with challenging moments and what they find helps them when looking after their own mental health.

Here’s what the young people told us:

“If I have a day when I know I’ve got to do something I don’t want to or that I’m scared about, I will make time in my morning to go to the gym as I find it puts me in a positive mindset for the day and I am better able to handle my emotions.”

“I keep noise cancelling headphones in my bag and I have a podcast downloaded so I listen to that if I am stressed.”

“If I'm getting stressed out, I tap each finger against my thumb and count four breaths in, hold for four, and four breaths out I find that helps me calm down.”

“I find that having really strong mints helps if I need to stop being in my own head.”

“If I am feeling unmotivated or down I like to get up early and go swimming. I find that swimming really relaxes me and it sets me up for the rest of the day!”

“It’s the little things…like lighting a candle, ringing my Nan or having a cuddle with my cat are things that give me comfort when I am feeling down.”

“When the world feels chaotic or too stressful, I often feel I need to slow down and listen to my body. Allowing yourself to rest can be difficult at first as it feels unproductive but taking time to recharge can be the most productive thing for you in the long run.”

“I love to read a book when I’m stressed it’s the perfect way to escape the world’s worries with a nice tea and candle.”

“When I come back from a stressful situation, the first thing I’ll do is put my headphones on and really listen to the music. I'll really like sing my heart out, like I’m purging all the bad things I’ve thought about in my day, dance like a maniac and live my life like no one is watching.”

“Ice always helps me, or a cold pack also works. It helps your brain focus on the cold instead of all the things in your head.”

“If I am having a bad day or if I am just feeling down, I like to have a shower and then snuggle in my bed with a book or a sketch pad with a hot chocolate!”

“I like to touch something cold to calm me down like I cold pack or crystal.”

“I like to do yoga. I find it calming.”

“When I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I often turn to sports as a way of releasing my emotions and letting off some steam.”

“I find having a group of people, outside of my everyday friendship group helps give me a different a perspective of what is really worrying me.”

“If I am having a bad day, I like to have a relaxing bath or take my dog on a walk listening to music.”

We feel really inspired when listening to our local children and young people. The next time you are feeling worried or stressed, try one of their pieces of advice and see what you think!

Find out how you can get involved this Children’s Mental Health Week and support the cause here:

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/