How Can Organisations Support Children's Mental Health?

Why Do We Need to Raise Awareness for Children’s Mental Health? 

Everyone has a right to good mental health - without it, we can’t thrive. As The Mental Health Foundation says, “It is the essence of who we are and how we experience the world.” 

But mental health is a complex picture made up of many interacting pixels.     

According to a report by NHS Digital on the mental health of children and young people in England, rates of probable mental disorders have increased since 2017. In 2020, one in six (16.0%) children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a probable mental disorder, increasing from one in nine (10.8) in 2017. The increase was evident in both boys and girls.  

Seven in ten of the children and young people who develop mental ill-health have not had enough help early and that’s why trauma-informed schools have such a crucial role to play in developing prevention-focused support and education before they develop mental health problems. 

Many describe children’s mental health as being at crisis point and an epidemic. Where children live can make a huge difference. The National Audit Office report ‘Improving children and young people’s mental health services‘ says, “The government must now ensure a coherent and coordinated cross-sector response, and that the right levers are in place to ensure local actions deliver the national ambitions.” 

What Can Organisastions Do For Children’s Mental health? 

Providing safe opportunities for children to discuss their feelings, thoughts and behaviours is paramount. Talking about healthy minds and mental wellbeing is something adults naturally do by giving pep talks and words of advice to ‘being there’ and fighting their corner. 

However, not every adult can be nurses, social workers and police officers at the same time as managing their children’s activities.  

What organisations can do is learn to recognise the signs of mental ill-health and grow whole-organisation approaches that cultivate a mentally healthy culture.  

Successful organisations make it high profile throughout the year and include the whole community. They use dynamic resources, hold regular meetings, appoint ‘Champions’, ‘Ambassadors’ and ‘Mentors’. They create groups and clubs, hold themed days and weeks, establish new routines and commit to ongoing wellbeing training so that policies and practices are regularly reviewed and improved. 

Early Intervention is Crucial 

Mental health problems are common and often develop during childhood and adolescence, but they are treatable which is why early detection and intervention is crucial. 

Childhood experiences shape people for life and when they are part of a ‘well’ organisation that protects and safeguards their mental health, young people are more resilient and have an improved ability to succeed in life and all its ups and downs. 

Hope For The Future Of Children’s Mental Health  

We hope that with a rise in awareness of mental health in children, problems will be intervened at a sufficiently early stage to minimise the impact on the child. This way, children will be able to learn, thrive and lead happy, fulfilled lives. 

Helpful Organisations 

• ChildLine 
• YoungMinds 
• Contact a Family 
• Family Lives 
• MindEd 
• Barnardo's 
• National Children’s Bureau 
• The Centre for Child Mental Health 
• Kidscape 
• Mentally Healthy Schools 
• Minds Ahead 
• Royal College of Psychiatrists 
• Penumbra (Scotland) 
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 
• PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) 
• Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (CYPMHC)