Children and Young people’s mental health
Table of Contents
Introduction
Maintaining positive mental health and knowing where to go and what to do when mental health declines is helpful.
Young Minds has a range of information to help children, young people and their parents and carers understand the thoughts and emotions that children and young people may experience.
To find out more about getting help locally with mental health and wellbeing including what to do in a mental health crisis, see the local Children and young people mental health and wellbeing leaflet.
Spotting Signs
Being more aware of when we aren’t feeling great makes it easier for us to do something about it before things get too bad. When we’re not feeling good, we might feel any of these:
- Emotions including feeling low, stressed, worried, down, anxious, angry, scared, or irritable.
- Physical sensations like your heart racing, butterflies in your stomach or feeling sick, breathing quickly, headaches, tense muscles, sweating, or feeling tired.
- Thoughts that are racing, or constant worrying. Thoughts like, ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I’m useless’, or ‘Nobody likes me’.
- Behaviours (the way we act) including avoiding things or people, snapping at people, eating too much or too little, sleep problems.
These are all completely normal things to experience and noticing them means you can take steps to improve things.
Breathing
It’s such a simple thing but it really does help.
Try these two breathing exercises, box breathing or hand breathing. What do you notice?
Talking
Try talking to someone, a parent or carer, or another adult you trust, this might be a teacher or youth worker or try one of the free helplines, (see the Children and young people mental health and wellbeing leaflet for helplines) …it’s better out than in!
Mindfulness
- Why not try a mindfulness exercise: This video will guide you through a five senses mindful exercise.
- This worksheet from Young Minds explains two easy mindfulness exercises you can try.
- The Mental Health Foundation has produced this booklet to explain how you can use Mindfulness to support your mental health.
Relaxing
Another technique is called progressive muscle relaxation: This is particularly useful to do in bed if you’re finding it hard to get to sleep.
For more mindful activities see: Mental health and wellbeing activities and resources.
Practicing self-care
It is important to practice self-care all the time not just when you are feeling low, this will help to maintain your wellbeing and will give you tools to cope when times get tough.
Want more ideas about self-care?
Here are some top self-care tips from South Gloucestershire children and young people created for Children’s Mental Health Week:
There are lots of great national resources too:
- Video from Young Minds about Self Care
- Self-Care Plan- Primary School age- Mentally Health Schools Booklet
- Self-Care Plan- Secondary School/ college age- Mentally Health Schools Booklet
Your stress bucket
How we are feeling will affect our ability to deal with life’s ups and downs.
Understanding what causes us to feel stressed, anxious or low can be the first step to making us feel better. Identifying positive coping strategies to deal with stress can help even further.
The stress bucket analogy thinks about the stresses coming in and the coping strategies that support us to manage that stress without becoming overwhelmed. Take a look at this video for more info
The 5 ways to wellbeing
Connecting to the 5 ways of wellbeing. is good for your wellbeing. Which are connect with others, be physically active, learning new skills, give to others, pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness).
Further Mental Health Tips from the Mental Health Foundation can be found in a downloadable document here.
Further resources for children and young people
- There are a range of apps to support wellbeing that can be downloaded to mobile phones or tablets – Visit the AWP mental wellbeing resources page to find out more.
- For toolkits to help support better sleep: South Gloucestershire- Sleep toolkits
- For tips around managing anxiety see: Successfully managing anxiety- Information for children and young people
- To find out more about getting help with mental health and wellbeing including what to do in a mental health crisis see: Children and young people mental health and wellbeing support- South Gloucestershire leaflet
Further resources for parents and carers
- Young Minds – Includes a parent’s helpline and Information
- South Glos Parents and Carers– A local parent carer forum for families with children aged 0-25 with additional needs.
- Jigsaw Thornbury-Supports families with children aged 0-25 with additional needs.
- For more tips on improving, your mental wellbeing see OneYou Stress less- Improving your mental health
To find out more about getting help with mental health and wellbeing including what to do in a mental health crisis see:
- Parents, carers and family members living in South Gloucestershire have free access to expertly designed online learning and resources on nurturing emotional health and wellbeing so that our children can thrive as kind, sociable and emotionally aware people through their lives. For the full details and information on how to access the online learning please see the link below and enter our exclusive South Gloucestershire ACCESS Code: CONCORDE
Toolkits for parents and carers
The following South Gloucestershire Tool Kits are available for parents and carers:
Useful links for parents and carers