Children's Mental Health Week: Exploring creative ways to share feelings, thoughts and ideas

The Isle of Wight Council and its partners are proud to support Children’s Mental Health Week which gets underway this week (7th-13th February).

Now in its eighth year, the week is organised by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and aims to get schools and families involved in a range of activities.

‘Growing together’
This year’s theme is ‘growing together’ and the week’s activities will encourage children and young people to explore the creative ways that they can share their feelings, thoughts and ideas.

There are lots of resources on the Place2Be website, including simple ways parents and carers can encourage their child to express themselves through baking, drawing, dancing or whatever has helped them get through the past year.

One in six affected
In its most recent report, the Children’s Commissioner for England highlighted that around one in six children and young people aged five to 19 had a probable mental health disorder, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement.

This has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic with children as well as adults having to continually adapt to new ways of living and learning.

Lilley: Have to focus and prioritise mental well-being of our young people
Cllr Michael Lilley, the council’s mental health champion, said,

“The pandemic has put extra strain on people’s mental health, especially children and young people, and this is likely to last for some time.
“Around 50 per cent of those with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14 and this could now be higher as COVID has been a huge traumatic event for children and young people.
“We have to focus and prioritise the mental well-being of our young people.
“During COVID the Island received new funding to provide a bespoke team of mental health support workers in every school on the Island in 2022.
“Working with partners, I intend to make sure we hear the voice of young people from every school through a network of local youth and children’s mental health champions who can be heard by the council, NHS and all local agencies.
“We have to make sure the Island’s future generations have a happier perspective and feel good about themselves.”

Don’t miss the deadline
Last month the council’s Public Health Team, in partnership with Cllr Lilley and Healthwatch Isle of Wight, launched a Mental Wellbeing Small Grants Fund to support voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to deliver innovative local projects to support mental wellbeing on the Island.

Children and young people is a priority theme and young people and youth groups are encouraged to apply before the closing date of 10th February.

The fund particularly wants to see peer groups that support each other at grass-roots.

Andre: Many ways to access help and support
Cllr Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, added,

“We know that early years development has a significant effect on the mental health of our children and Adverse Childhood Experiences can negatively impact on resilience in later life.
“Therefore, we are working collaboratively with families, schools and our early years partners such as the Isle of Wight Youth Trust and our Barnardo’s Family Centres to provide a comprehensive support package which will help to ensure that our Island children have the best possible chance of a happy childhood.
“I would encourage all parents to make use of the information and support that’s available both during pregnancy and in the early years of their child’s life.
“There are many ways to access help and support and Children’s Mental Health Week is a good opportunity to spread the message that no one is alone and we are here to listen and to help.”

The Isle of Wight Youth Trust is also supporting Children’s Mental Health Week 2022.

Dare: Isolated from their peers
Jo Dare, chief executive, explained,

“COVID has had a significant impact on the mental health of children and young people, they have been isolated from their peers and their confidence in themselves and the world around them have been challenged.
“To raise awareness of Children’s Mental Health Week, every day this week, we will be sharing the thoughts of the Island’s Youth Mental Health Taskforce on how we can ‘grow together’ through our social channels.”

Routes to support
Good mental health and wellbeing are something that many children have, however, local support is available for those who need help:

The Isle of Wight Youth Trust runs a youth mental health drop-In every Wednesday, between 2pm and 5pm in The Hub, 114 Pyle Street, Newport, where wellbeing practitioners are on hand to offer information and support — no appointment necessary. For more information, call (01983) 529569.
KissyPuppy provide bereavement counselling for children and their families on the Island. For more information, call (01983) 529511.
Barnardo’s Talk2 Service is a free confidential counselling service for children and young people under 18 that provides support for children’s mental health and wellbeing. For more information, call (01983) 865657.
Space4U Safe Haven operated by No Limits also provide out of hours emotional and practical support for 11 to 17-year-olds on Mondays (Newport) and Tuesdays (Sandown) evenings.