Last week was Children’s mental health week but how successful has this been and what new initiatives are there to help young ones cope with the current pandemic?

Now more than ever its important to make sure that the youth of today are properly nurtured as many have the added stresses of being isolated from friends, lack of interaction with teachers and learning new ways of learning and life.

What many people forget is the fact that mental health in both adults and children isn’t new. It has however, increased due to lifestyle changes being forced by the current worldwide pandemic.

Children’s mental health week takes place once a year on the first week of February.

The charity Place2Be sets up resources to help primary schools celebrate each year.

As part of this years theme “Express yourself” children were encouraged to find ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity.

Expressing themselves through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film, and doing activities that they enjoy.

Sadly, a lot more research needs to be done for both children and adults in research and treatments.

Its all very well having 2 or 3 weeks a year when mental health is discussed by the media and charities but everyone needs to make sure that mental health is being researched properly.

Children should have mental health education in schools both secondary and primary and they should also have on site counsellors.

Only then, there will be less suicides Mental health is still, even in 2021 not taken seriously due to lack of funding and treatments available.

Mental health sufferers may no longer live in isolation physically but mentally there is still a stigma.

How many of you are guilty of ignoring your loved ones mental health? Avoiding them when you know they are feeling low?

Please feel free to share how you encourage your children to stay positive throughout the pandemic and any successful treatments you feel have worked?

What are your thoughts children’s mental health week? Were you and your child or children aware of this week?