Loneliness is a feeling many of us are familiar with, and is the focus of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs this week.
More and more people are feeling lonely in the UK, with many people impacted during the pandemic. Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to come together as a community to discuss this and work together to help each other work towards good mental health.
There might be some events close to where you live to mark this week. Here are some ideas for you and your child during mental health awareness week.
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Stories are great for supporting children to consider and talk about mental health. Here are a few book recommendations about mental health, feelings and emotions.
Ruby’s Worry takes a thoughtful look at anxiety in young children, and how it influences their day-to-day life. Anxiety is a big (and often tricky) subject, but this book tackles an emotional subject through thoughtful illustrations and an engaging storyline. It is great for young children who may have their own worries.
At times, it can feel hard to open a dialogue with your child about their mental health. This book provides a perfect opener to discussing what positive mental health is and considering what we can do to support our mental health. It covers topics such as positive self-image, relationships, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness in a way that is child-friendly and with illustrations that help children understand this further.
When you are looking after a baby or young child, life is often very busy, and it can be difficult to keep in touch with friends and family. Our relationships support our wellbeing, so think about making time to connect with others this week. You could arrange to meet for a walk, arrange a video call or go along to a group activity for parents and children which could be a good way to make some new friends.
5 Steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (nhs.uk)
Mental Health Awareness Week (mentalhealth.org.uk)