Children’s Mental Health Week 2021

Posted January 11th 2021

Join us during Children's Mental Health Week 2021, to learn about the latest research in children and young people's mental health.

We’ll also be sharing personal stories and some practical tips to help young people stay well.

What’s going on?

Researchers and students from NCMH and the division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, where we’re based in Cardiff University, will be offering an insight into the latest research taking place into children and young people’s mental health, as well as sharing some of their own experiences with their mental health when they were young people.

Below you will find the listings for free webinars we’ll be holding on Zoom, and throughout the week we’ll be sharing insightful blogs and personal stories on the NCMH blog.

Recordings of the webinars can now be viewed here.

graphic for young mental health in a digital world talk

Youth mental health in a digital world

Tuesday 2 February 6pm

Dr Ruth Sellers is involved in a project called Enurture which focuses on better understanding youth mental health in a digital world.

She will talk about some of the evidence for digital risks for youth mental health, digital opportunities to support mental health, as well as tips for staying safe online.

There will also be time to ask questions and to hear your views on digital risks and opportunities, as well as research priorities to support young people.

Ruth is a Senior Lecturer in Child Development and Community Mental health at the University of Sussex. She is also an associate of Cardiff University and the University of Cambridge.

To register for this webinar please visit the Eventbrite page.

Tips for sleep-deprived teens

Wednesday 3 February 6pm

Dr Katie Lewis knows a thing or two about a good night’s sleep. Learn some helpful tips to make the most of your shut-eye and hear about her research into the links between sleep and mental health.

Aimed at teenagers and nearly-teens, Katie’s talk will cover:

what controls our sleep
how sleep changes during our teenage years
and sleep problems and what we can do about them

A Research Associate at NCMH, Katie’s research investigates the link between sleep and mental health.

She completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Bath and PhD in Psychological Medicine at Cardiff University. Her PhD examined the role of sleep loss as an early warning sign of mania in bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis. She has recently been awarded a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship, where she will investigate the relationship between sleep and mood disorders using genetic, longitudinal and neurophysiological data.

To register for this webinar please visit the Eventbrite page.

Young people and their mood and wellbeing

Thursday 4 February 6pm

Join Dr Rhys Bevan Jones as he discusses mood, well-being, and depression in young people – including how low mood or depression might present, possible underlying reasons and approaches to prevent and manage difficulties. This will be in the context of the young person as well as the families/carers.

He will also discuss a digital programme called ‘MoodHwb’ to support mood and well-being, which has been developed with young people, families, carers and practitioners at Cardiff University. A trial of the programme is planned soon in Wales and Scotland.

Rhys is a psychiatrist and researcher at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University.

To register for this webinar please visit the Eventbrite page.

What is Children’s Mental Health Week?

Around three children in every classroom have a mental health problem and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement.

Children’s Mental Health Week was established by Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity that provides counselling and mental health support and training in UK schools.

The week was launched to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

It is now its seventh year and for this year’s theme, Express Yourself, Place2Be is encouraging children (and adults) to explore the different ways we can express ourselves, and the creative ways that we can share our feelings, our thoughts and our ideas.

Place2be now has free primary and secondary resources available, including assembly guides, slides, group activities, fundraising ideas and more to help schools and youth groups explore what it means to Express Yourself.

Support

Young Minds UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health.
Childline a counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the UK.
The Mix offers support for anyone under 25 about anything that’s troubling them.
Papyrus offer confidential support for young people struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Beat offers information and support for anyone affected by eating disorders.