Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Mental Health Week 2023

Children’s Mental Health Week is a wonderful opportunity to get started on the discussion of mental health and wellbeing with your pupils. But you might not know anything about it, where to start, or where to find resources or ideas to help take you through it. 

Luckily, Designs & Lines has made this guide to tell you everything you need to know and to point you in the right direction for resources and activities.

We make it our aim to keep up-to-date with the latest national events and activities your school can take part in, so read on to learn more!

What Is Children’s Mental Health Week?

Children’s Mental Health Week is a weeklong national charity event dedicated to shining a spotlight on the importance of children’s and young people’s mental health. This makes it a week both for primary school pupils and students in secondary schools, reminding us all that no matter what age you are, support for your mental health is vital. 

The event was launched in 2015 by Place2Be, and has continued to be held every year ever since.

About Place2Be

Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity that provides counselling and mental health support and training in schools across the UK. For over 25 years, the organisation has operated under the belief that children shouldn’t have to face mental health problems alone. The wonderful team and partners aim to ensure that belief is easily and regularly met across the country using an approach guided by the charity’s mission, vision, and values.

When Is Children’s Mental Health Week in 2023?

Children’s Mental Health Week will take place from 6th February to 12th February in 2023. 

This puts it almost at the same time as Children’s Mental Health Week 2022, which was held from 7th February to 13th February 2022.

The Theme of Children’s Mental Health Week 2023

The theme of Children’s Mental Health Week this coming year is “Let’s Connect”. This is about the importance of meaningful connections – between friends, family, and others – in creating a sense of well-being and in the provision of support for people’s mental health. When people lack these connections, it can make them feel isolated and lonely, which can have an impact on their mental health in a negative way. 

To combat this and to help both adults and children alike to reach out, Place2Be are encouraging people to connect in healthy, rewarding, meaningful ways. You can find out more about how they want to do this, and how you can achieve it with your own students, by reading up on their theme announcement.

How You Can Take Part

There are lots of different ways that you and your students can take part in this event, and learn more about Place2Be and what they provide across the UK.

Start by Finding Out More

The best place to start is always by learning more about the charity you’re raising money for. Place2Be do amazing work on a national scale to ensure every child has someone to listen to them, so read up on them and what they do in advance of the event.

Access Free Resources

Every year, Place2Be develops free resources to help schools take part, fundraise, and to raise awareness. For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, the resources were uploaded in November 2022. By taking a look, you’ll find:

• Assembly guides
• Slideshows
• Group and class activities
• Videos
• Tips on talking to children of all ages about mental health

So, whether you need a guide of activity ideas or want to plan an assembly or two to get talking about mental health with your children, you will find what you need already waiting with them. You can explore their resources here, and don’t forget to check back regularly in case something else is added!

Ideas to Fundraise By

Place2Be can even help with ideas for fundraising efforts. All you need to do is download their Dress to Express fundraising pack. It’s full to the brim with tips, ideas, and extra resources for raising money. Then, you’ll set up a JustGiving account to collect the donations or to donate extra funds.

If you want a few ideas for school fundraising to get you started right away, you can also take a look at the ones we have.

Spreading the Word

Alongside donations, the most important thing you can do is help to raise awareness. Place2Be want their fundraisers to spread the word about the event and the different ways that you can support children and young people. There are different ways to do this as well, both online and off, so see which works best for you and your school.