Children바카라 사이트™s mental health: new online resources for adults
Alistair Burt outlines why adults should talk to children and young people about mental health and introduces new online resources.
Why we must never stop talking about children and young people바카라 사이트™s mental health
It바카라 사이트™s been said before but it바카라 사이트™s something definitely worth repeating 바카라 사이트“ better mental health starts with a conversation. Achieving that first step 바카라 사이트“ mustering the courage to share something so deeply personal and troubling 바카라 사이트“ needs support, understanding and encouragement. This is especially true for children and young people. The insights we have indicate that men in particular find it more difficult to talk about mental health.
As adults, we sometimes find it hard to confront these kinds of problems. We worry about the reaction of work colleagues, friends and family 바카라 사이트“ but for the young, still finding their way in the world, these worries can seem insurmountable at times. The taunts and ill-informed judgements of the playground or classroom can stifle cries for help. Meanwhile, the largely unmoderated world of social media offers dangers and benefits in equal measure.
Understanding these issues, in both the physical and virtual realms, requires heightened awareness from health and care professionals, informed by those they are tasked to help. This is why we have worked with to develop a resource, which includes information pages on topics such as e-safety, self-esteem, building personal skills and the impact of the digital world on identity. Information is also provided about specific digital risks such as cyberbullying, pornography and radicalisation.
MindEd offers free educational resources on children and young people바카라 사이트™s mental health for all adults, funded in part by government and led by our sector partner, the . The intent is to help protect young people바카라 사이트™s safety online and to keep professionals properly informed. The more knowledgeable they can be 바카라 사이트“ and be perceived to be 바카라 사이트“ the more trusted the advice. Credible, professional voices provide young people with the confidence they need to manage their 바카라 사이트˜digital lives바카라 사이트™ and make responsible decisions about what they should 바카라 사이트“ and shouldn바카라 사이트™t 바카라 사이트“ do online.
Whether it바카라 사이트™s developing policy, legislation or training, best results are always achieved by involving the people for whom the benefit is intended. And so it was in this case. Development of MindEd바카라 사이트™s online resource was driven by feedback from young people, who were clear in their belief that health professionals needed a better understanding of online risks and resilience factors. Whilst it is not always possible to change children바카라 사이트™s circumstances, a better understanding of their experiences is often the most effective way to support them.
Understanding personal experience lies at the heart of the recent , which took place on 4 February 바카라 사이트“ a 바카라 사이트˜day of action바카라 사이트™ from . Part funded by the Department of Health, Time to Change is the campaigning arm of leading mental health charities and . One of their primary aims is to remind us all that a problem kept hidden can mean a lifetime compromised 바카라 사이트“ or even cut short.
Recently, I was privileged to . Zephyr has experienced many of the issues described above, but was able to find the courage 바카라 사이트“ when battling depression in his teens 바카라 사이트“ to open up about his mental health problems. He sought and received the help he needed and has since gone on to make a difference to others by speaking publically about his experiences. He is a brave young man.
The consequences of not reaching out for support are thrown into even sharper relief by . This year바카라 사이트™s theme is all about 바카라 사이트˜building resilience바카라 사이트™ and teaching children to 바카라 사이트˜bounce forward바카라 사이트™ from life바카라 사이트™s challenges. It바카라 사이트™s also about seeking the help and support they need, when they need it. As with many such initiatives, the week바카라 사이트™s activities 바카라 사이트“ led by the Duchess of Cambridge 바카라 사이트“ has been a joint effort and includes MindEd on the roster of supporters.
More broadly, as was our stated intent in last year바카라 사이트™s Future in mind report, initiatives like Time to Talk and Children바카라 사이트™s Mental Health Week are helping us all continue the national conversation about children and young people바카라 사이트™s mental health. Along with their parents and carers, they deserve the quality of mental health services and ready access to information to make their own decisions about the support and treatment they need.
In tandem with our work on there is much to be positive about in our national pursuit of better mental health. These are firm foundations on which to build better services for future generations 바카라 사이트“ but whatever happens, the most important thing we must all do is keep talking.