The importance of supporting children's mental health

What is mental health? 

We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. Mental health is about our thoughts, feelings and emotions which can be negatively impacted by the world around us. Someone with poor mental health may be feeling sad, depressed, or emotionally drained to the point where they are unable to perform usual day to day tasks. We all feel down sometimes, which is absolutely fine, but when we can’t perform everyday functions then it becomes something more serious. 

Lots of aspects of life can mean we struggle with our mental health, such as a period of change, uncertainty, or trauma. Someone may be feeling overwhelmed at work or school, may be being bullied or there could have been a loss in the family. Each reason is valid and worth seeking support for from a friend, family member or a professional.  

Why is it important to look after your mental health as well as your physical health? 

We often talk about what it’s like to have poor mental health, but we should also recognise what good mental health looks like too. When you look after your mental health, you can be happy, content and peaceful in your own mind. It will be easier to go about daily life and enjoy activities, hobbies, and interests. It also helps to make us more resilient so, should we experience anxiety or stress, we’re better equipped to handle it.   

Mental health and physical health are also interconnected. For example, there’s a medically recognised link between the body and the brain. Stress can aggravate our digestion and cause problems like nausea, constipation, and diarrhoea. People with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, are also more likely to struggle with their mental health as they manage the impact of their condition on their everyday life. 

Why are so many children struggling with their mental health now? 

Recent changes in the way we live our lives have taken their toll on us all in both positive and negative ways, and children are no different. According to the latest NHS data, as many as one in six children aged 6-16 thought to have a mental health disorder, rising to one in four for those aged 17-19. 

• Online content: Whilst the internet can bring a host of benefits, there aren’t separate internets for adults and children. Children and young people could stumble across harmful content, being online can open them up to cyberbullying, and they may view images or videos that promote unhealthy ways of living, including conforming to unrealistic body types and standards. There’s more information on how to stay safe online here.

• Covid-19 pandemic: The lack of routine and social isolation which the pandemic brought with it still impacts the everyday lives of children in many ways. They were thrown into a huge period of uncertainty. This led to an undeniable spike in poor mental health. Now, one in six children or young people will experience a mental health condition, instead of one in nine before the pandemic. 

• The cost-of-living crisis: More than one in four children in the UK today live in poverty, which is a shocking truth. That means millions of children are growing up in cold homes with empty tummies which, of course, takes its toll on their mental health. A recent Barnardo’s survey found that one in three parents said their child’s mental health had worsened in recent months during the cost-of-living crisis.  

• Climate change: Children and young people are feeling increasingly anxious about climate change and the impact this will have on their lives as well as their physical and mental health. Barnardo’s is part of the Everyone’s Environment Programme which encourages children and young people to have a say on environmental decision-making and policy. It’s recent review found that many don’t feel like the Government is doing enough to protect the planet and they worry about the impact this will have on themselves as well as future generations.  

What can children do to help look after their mental health?  

People can have periods of good mental health and bad mental health. Unlike physical health, it isn’t necessarily something which can be fixed with medication or in a certain period of time. Some days, you may feel happy, positive and want to be with friends and family and other days you may just want to stay at home – both of which are totally fine. It’s easy to feel alone at times like this, but you rarely are, many others feel this way sometimes too.  

Here’s some ways to help maintain good mental health: 

• Talk to someone. It can make our mental health worse if we bottle up feelings, worries and anxieties. Chatting things through with a friend, family member, neighbour, teacher, colleague or even a mental health professional can really help and could be a good source of help, support, and advice on how to navigate what you’re currently experiencing.   

• Build a positive daily routine. It sounds obvious but regular physical activity, a healthy and nutritious diet, good quality sleep, time with loved ones and mental stimulation, such as learning something new or being creative, can all do wonders for our wellbeing.  

• Be open to help, advice, and guidance. We all need a helping hand sometimes and there’s no shame in speaking to someone who could offer support. Barnardo’s runs mental health services throughout the UK and there’s various NHS services throughout the country too.  

How can Barnardo’s help? 

Barnardo’s runs more than 100 mental health services for children, young people, parents and carers throughout the country – find out what services are available in your area.

In addition. Barnardo’s runs: 

• Mental Health Support Teams in schools (MHSTs) 

MHSTs are mental health services which run from schools and colleges. They provide a first port of call for children and young people who have mental health issues including low mood, anxiety, and poor emotional regulation. Barnardo’s runs 16 such services and we want the Government to roll out even more so everyone in education throughout England can benefit from the direct support they offer. MSHTs also support teachers, parents and carers to develop positive mental health practices throughout the school and can also signpost to further sources of support when it’s needed. Find out more about MSHTs here. 

• Barnardo’s Family Space 

Raising a child isn’t easy so parents and carers may also face struggles with their mental health. Barnardo’s Family Space is a free online resource which offers a range of information, help and advice for every stage of parenting or caring. Visit the Family Space here.