We Are Supporting Children’s Mental Health Week 2024, are you?
Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 will take place from 5-11 February. Place2Be launched the mental health awareness week in 2015 to empower, equip and give a voice to every child in the UK. The goal is that no child or young person must face a mental health problem alone.
This year’s theme is ‘My Voice Matters’
All children have the right to express themselves , to believe in themselves and to be heard. The My Voice Matters theme is about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves.
The feeling of empowerment can have a positive impact on wellbeing and self-esteem. Children and young people can be empowered by having their voices heard and this in turn increases self-confidence.
By working together to create a positive change, listening to each other, and embracing individual differences, children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can begin to recognise fluctuations in their mental health and wellbeing.
1 in 6 children and young people now have a diagnosable mental health condition. Children’s Mental Health Week 2024 aims to raise awareness of the increase in diagnosis to ensure that children and young people across the UK feel listened to and know that they’re not alone.
Schools, parents, carers and wider communities can all come together and play their part.
Adults need to empower children and young people, and provide them with time, space, and opportunities to express themselves. Ensure children and young people have opportunities to influence aspects of their worlds that directly - or indirectly - affect their wellbeing.
Empowering children and young people can have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. Children and young people who feel that their voices are heard - and that what they say makes a difference - have higher levels of self-efficacy and self-esteem.
They also have a greater sense of community – and as people become empowered, they can work together to create positive changes for themselves and for others.
There are some children and young people whose voices are marginalised. For example, those who have a special educational need or disability, those who are care-experienced, those who are part of the LGBTQI+ community, and those from racially minoritised groups. This Children’s Mental Health Week all children and young people, whoever they are, and wherever they are in the world, should be able to say – and believe - “My Voice Matters”.
If you are a school and you want to get involved, download the available resources here .
For families, a wide variety of resources are available here.
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