Politicians come together to show their support for Children’s Mental Health Week

On Wednesday 5 February, in collaboration with the Schools Wellbeing Partnership, Place2Be hosted an event in the Houses of Parliament to commemorate Children’s Mental Health Week.

The event, sponsored by Stroud MP and former GP Dr Simon Opher, brought together charities, MPs, Lords, and young people to consider the topic “From Surviving to Thriving: How Can We Centre Mental Health and Wellbeing In The Education System?”

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is progressing through Parliament, and the Government has committed to focusing on prevention through expanding mental health support in schools. So the event gave attendees the opportunity to discuss how the Government can ensure that schools are places where young people can thrive.

Gail Precious from the Schools Wellbeing Partnership has said: "We are delighted to partner with Place2Be during Children’s Mental Health Week. We know that supportive settings can positively aid children and young people’s sense of wellbeing, and we both believe that a whole school approach is the best foundation to developing and embedding support for mental health and wellbeing in these settings."

Around 50 representatives attended the event, including the Chair of the Education Select Committee, the Liberal Democrat mental health and education spokespeople, and MPs from across England, Scotland and Wales. Attendees spoke to Place2Be and young people about their asks for the Government, and took part in a positivity exchange activity, receiving messages of encouragement from pupils at Place2Be partner school Heathmere Primary School, and sharing their own advice back.

Event sponsor and former GP Dr Simon Opher MP said “I think that we need to focus on building young people's resilience and ability to connect with others every bit as much as growing the economy or climate change. Schools are one of the few places where the influence of multinational corporations doesn't reach. This is one reason why schools are well placed to seize the opportunity they have to ensure that students are able to be together in an atmosphere of trust and respect.”

Catherine continues: “Through the Children’s Mental Health Week theme of “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself”, we want children to really excel, to understand their potential and fulfil it, helped by their amazing teachers, families, friends and communities. It was incredibly powerful to hear this directly from students at the event, who told us that by focusing on mental health at school, we can help prevent any other young person from feeling like they have to struggle alone.”