HRH The Duchess of Cambridge supports Children's Mental Health Week
February 2015 saw the first ever UK Children's Mental Health Week, an initiative of the wonderful charity Place2Be. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is the Royal Patron of Place2Be, reflecting her personal commitment to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children in the UK. One of the aims of Children's Mental Health Week is to raise awareness among parents and teachers of the importance of taking young people's mental health seriously and the benefits of doing so sooner rather than later.
Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition
This could be depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders or behavioural problems, often as a response to what is happening in their lives, such as loss, change or bullying
They will generally not "grow out of it" but may develop ways of hiding or channeling their feelings
Half of all people with lifetime mental health problems first experience symptoms by the age of 14
Depression and anxiety amongst teenagers have increased by 75% in the past 25 years
Children are less likely to suffer from serious mental health difficulties later in life if they receive support at an early age
As Place2Be says:
"It can be difficult for a parent to come to terms with their child needing support with their mental health. By talking openly with children about their feelings, and getting help, we can do our best to ensure that small problems don't grow with the child, and become more serious when they are adults. One of the most important life skills we teach our children is knowing when to ask for help."
Place2Be provides counselling in primary and secondary schools and supports parents and teachers: http://www.place2be.org.uk/
Although they work in various locations aroung the country, there are no projects in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or Oxfordshire at present.
