Your child’s mental health

Children’s mental health is without a doubt the most important aspect of any child’s social, emotional, cognitive and spiritual development.­

Children’s emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical health. Good mental health helps children to develop the resilience to cope with the ups and downs of life and motivates  them to reach their full potential. Good mental health also supports children in living a life that is filled with positive experiences with the willingness to do what is best for themselves and those around them and to grow into individual unique adults.

Positive Mental health provides a  safe structure for wellbeing which can promote  their  physical health. It can impact on all aspects of their life, including their educational attainment, relationships and physical wellbeing. Mental health can also change over time, children’s stress and anxiety capacities will depend upon age and stage of development, external factors like family, community and personal situations and structural impacts such as economic, social and environmental issues, such as poverty, pandemics and war to add a few!

Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.

Things that can help keep children and young people mentally well include:

• Being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise
• Having time and freedom to play, indoors and outdoors
• Being part of a family that gets on well most of the time
• Going to a school that looks after the wellbeing of all its pupils
• Taking part in local activities

(taken from the Mental Health Foundation)

Other factors are also important, including feeling loved, trusted, understood and safe. Children who are optimistic, resilient, have some control over their lives and feel like they belong are more likely to have good mental wellbeing.

Life is full of uncertainty, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress and anxiety levels in children and adults in an unprecedented way. Now is the time to do all we can to protect our mental health and the mental health of those we love. Children and young people are particularly affected by intensified uncertainty.

Below links to some websites that may help you in managing your child’s mental health.

• Child Mind Institute – Family Resource Center – Child Mind Institute
• Young Minds – Parents Survival Guide | Mental Health Support | YoungMinds
• NHS – Children’s mental health – Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Place2Be – How to support your child’s mental health – Place2Be
• BBC – Mental health advice for parents – how to support your child – BBC Bitesize