Children’s Mental Health Week 2022
Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place on 7-13 February 2022, and is ran by children’s mental health charity Place2Be. This year’s theme is Growing Together.
Human beings change and grow – we do it all the time and in many different ways. Physical growth is easy to see as we grow from babies to children, teenagers to adults. We grow intellectually as we gain new knowledge, skills, and understanding at school, and beyond. Growing Together is about growing emotionally, and finding ways to help each other grow.
This week is about encouraging children (and adults) to consider how they have grown, and how they can help others to grow.
Growing Together is about growing emotionally and finding ways to help each other grow. Challenges and setbacks can help us to grow and adapt and trying new things can help us to move beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential. However, emotional growth is often a gradual process that happens over time, and sometimes we might feel a bit ‘stuck’.
1 in 6 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health problem, and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement. Whether you’re someone who works with children, a parent or carer, passionate about spreading the word, or keen to raise vital funds for Place2Be, you can help us reach as many people as possible.
Resources for Children and Young People
Place2Be’s free resources will help children and young people to explore what it means to grow together. All of the ideas can be adapted for use in school, for home-schooling, online lessons or independent learning.
- This year, Place2Be have launched two assemblies – one for primary schools, and one for secondary and high schools – to help children and young people across the UK take part in the week and explore the theme of ‘Growing Together’. Both assemblies will be available on the Children’s Mental Health Week website from 8am on Monday 7 February. The assemblies will also feature special messages of support from high-profile surprise guests, to be revealed on the day. Sign up for email alerts to be the first to hear about when the assemblies go live.
- In exclusive interviews with presenter and Place2Be Ambassador Josh Smith, familiar faces from the world of TV, music and sport have shared their stories of emotional growth with us. These videos can be used in class, or at home with your child, to help start a conversation about growth and the different challenges we may face. Click here to view these Growth Stories.
- Click here to view assembly guides, class activities and fundraising ideas for primary school staff or those working with under 11s.
- Click here to view assembly guides, class activities and fundraising ideas for secondary school staff or those working with over 11s.
- Click here to download the Welsh Language versions of the resources
Resources for Parents and Carers
As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s mental health. Check out our free resources for families below…
- Click here to view helpful tips for you, and your children, to help you think about the different ways we grow.
- Parenting Smart – Place2Be’s new site full of practical and tried & tested tips for parents and carers of primary-age children
- Support Balloon – This activity from Place2Be’s Art Room team can help children think about who supports them to grow.
- My Changing Shapes – This activity supports young people to look back at their past growths.
Get Involved
Help to make Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 the biggest and best yet! By combining our efforts, we can get closer to a future where every child has easy access to mental health support. To get involved…
- Download the free fundraising pack and help raise vital funds for Place2Be. Use clothing to express yourself and hold a Dress to Express Day with your school, workplace or friends and family.
- Use the Social Media Guide to help raise important awareness for children’s mental health and spread the word about the week.
