Children's Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week, which starts on February 7, throws a spotlight on the issue of wellbeing and making time to do something that makes you feel good and becomes part of a routine.
Maybe make a special effort to increase your focus on developing a new or existing skill, or take time to think about your own future potential.
Librarian Miss Robinson has collated some ideas on different ways to become involved with Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week when everyone is encouraged to consider how they have grown and how they can help others grow.
Emotional growth is often a gradual process that happens over time, and sometimes we might feel a bit ‘stuck’. At these times we are reminded of how much we need others in our lives to help us to keep growing.
Take a look at the following short films of growth and wellbeing activities to try:
George the Poet’s spoken word piece was shared by Random Acts - Channel 4’s home for creative short films:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAJUbk8rkC0
Bitesize article: How to stay motivated How to stay motivated - BBC Bitesize
Mental Health - Health and disease - KS3 Biology - BBC Bitesize - BBC Bitesize
Reading also provides vital support with more than half of them saying it made them feel better (National Literacy Trust) and around a third said it helped when they could not see family and friends.
Our academy library has a huge variety of books for your dose of reading escapism, along with a range of fiction and non-fiction books which focus on mental health and wellbeing,
You can also choose new reading material at home with thousands of free eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics and eMagazines from:
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-culture/libraries/library-online
There are also a range of titles to help with the whole subject, with everything from celebrity stories to mood-boosting titles.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/m/mental-health-awareness/
https://reading-well.org.uk/books/mood-boosting-books/chosen-by-young-people-2017
Premiership football stars and Prince William discuss the importance of looking after your mental health https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEUoV7zJ8R0 (note the conversation touches on some serious issues including suicide)
Nadiya Hussian, the winner of The Great British Bake Off, talks about living with a panic disorder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Yyvrvj1u8
Radio 1 presenter Katie Thistleton talks about how opening up is the first big step towards recovery https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51329385
Radio 1 DJ and former CBBC presenter Katie Thistleton dropped into Newsround HQ to chat to De’Graft about why it’s important to ask for help (during Children’s Mental Health Week 2020) https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51356508
Please visit our Safeguarding and information for families page: https://www.thomasclarksonacademy.org/news/?pid=3&nid=6&storyid=2354
You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher or other trusted adult. If you'd like to speak to someone outside of your immediate circle, here are some places to find help: