Children's Mental Health Week 6th - 12th Feb 2023

I normally only post poetry, however; I cannot let this week pass-by without not only acknowledging but also promoting and supporting in every way I can.

Children's mental health week begins tomorrow (6th Feb). It is so important to engage in discussions with young people. They experience thoughts and feelings that they do not always understand which potentially leads to actions without a true realisation of the end result. As a society we should be working together to support our young people not pressuring them for 'perfection'. Listen to them and actually hear them, not dismissing their views because they are too young to understand. Encourage enjoyment in learning not grade 9's across the board.

Too often I hear adults saying young people cannot struggle with mental health because they are too young to understand 'life'. They don't have bills to worry about, a job to hold down or a family to support. How closed minded! Some people struggle with mental health regardless of how "perfect" their lives seem. There does not need to be a rhyme or reason. In addition to that many young people have difficulties to deal with that alot of adults, including myself; cannot begin to understand. We need to stop judging and we need to stop justifying. Sometimes you feel down, you don't need to justify why!

Over this week I will post statistics surrounding young people's mental health, views and opinions on ideas that can help our young people and elements of my own story.

Let's support everyone regardless of their age.

I have worked with a lot of young people recently and below is one example of a conversation I had with a 14 year old pupil.

Student: Looking at set maths work – “I don’t give a f***.”

Me: “Why?”

Student: “Cos it’s all s*** and I don’t give a f***”

Me: “Ok, is that because the work is too hard, or because you cannot see how it will benefit you after school?”

Student: “Because I don’t need it for the job I want.”

Me: “What job do you want?”

Student: “Why the f*** do I have to tell you?”

Me: “You don’t. I’m just having a conversation with you, you can tell me as much or as little as you want.”

Student: “It doesn’t matter, everyone says I’m too dumb to do what I want, so I don’t care anyway.”