Parents should encourage their children to talk about their feelings and experiences without fear of judgement. Schools and communities should promote these resources and encourage their use. Schools should foster a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel safe to express their feelings and seek help. If self-care strategies are not enough, seeking professional help is crucial. Meditation and deep breathing Military child well-being toolkit resources exercises, for example, can help reduce stress and anxiety. A routine helps manage time effectively, reduces stress and ensures a balanced lifestyle.
Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
Children and young people supporting the week From downloading a resource and holding an assembly, to organising a fundraiser and spreading the word, your support helped raise vital funds for children and young people. We believe that children should not have to face mental health problems alone. The theme for Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 is ‘This is My Place’, and our aim is to support the systems around children and young people to help them feel they belong. The increasing evidence of deteriorating mental health among young people highlights a significant global public health crisis. Future research should aim to address these gaps to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mental health trends.
- Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 is taking place this week, from 9-15 February.
- There are several measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and self-harm.
- For example, a systematic review of studies conducted in UK mainstream schools found that school-based universal interventions targeting the promotion of emotional or mental wellbeing, or the prevention of mental health difficulties demonstrated neutral to small effects (268).
- In fact, close to three quarters (73%) of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2021.
- Starting a mental health conversation does not require the perfect words.
Youth Day: Mental Health Awareness & Self-Care Strategies
Minister Wilson stated, “Youth Mental Health Awareness Week is an important reminder that the emotional and psychological wellbeing of our young people must remain at the forefront of our national agenda. Nicasa provides compassionate, confidential support for youth ages 12 and older, adults, and families. Recognizing these patterns helps caregivers intervene early and guide teens toward healthier ways of connecting with others.
Early intervention doesn’t just address symptoms; it changes outcomes. Mental health struggles often begin subtly—low motivation, irritability, or trouble concentrating—and escalate over time if left untreated. Programs like peer mentoring, school wellness clubs, or even small support groups can help teens feel less alone and more understood.
While cyberbullying victimization has remained stable (136) or increased among adolescents (138–140), it has negatively impacted mental health. At present there are no direct links between population changes in youth mental health and exposure to violence, abuse and neglect. In contrast, several studies have found that some lifestyle trends have positively improved for adolescents, with signs of decreasing alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, and risky behaviour (47, 121–125).
Whether you’re a primary school, secondary school, family, community group or workplace, we’ve got activities and resources for you. Make sure you get your hands on Place2Be’s official free Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 resources! The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. While these conditions have seen a significant rise in diagnoses over the past century and an increase in diagnosis-seeking behaviour post-pandemic, their prevalence and trends remain uncertain due to the lack of robust community surveys.
