Children and Young people’s mental health

One You South Glos Mental Health Support Website 

Introduction

Maintaining positive mental health and knowing where to go and what to do when mental health declines is helpful.  

Young Minds has a range of information to help children, young people and their parents and carers understand the thoughts and emotions that children and young people may experience.  

To find out more about getting help locally with mental health and wellbeing including what to do in a mental health crisis, see the local Children and young people mental health and wellbeing leaflet.  

Spotting Signs

Being more aware of when we aren’t feeling great makes it easier for us to do something about it before things get too bad. When we’re not feeling good, we might feel any of these: 

• Emotions including feeling low, stressed, worried, down, anxious, angry, scared, or irritable. 

• Physical sensations like your heart racing, butterflies in your stomach or feeling sick, breathing quickly, headaches, tense muscles, sweating, or feeling tired. 

• Thoughts that are racing, or constant worrying. Thoughts like, ‘I can’t do it’, ‘I’m useless’, or ‘Nobody likes me’. 

• Behaviours (the way we act) including avoiding things or people, snapping at people, eating too much or too little, sleep problems. 

These are all completely normal things to experience and noticing them means you can take steps to improve things. 

Breathing  

It’s such a simple thing but it really does help.  

Try these two breathing exercises, box breathing or  hand breathing. What do you notice? 

Talking

Try talking to someone, a parent or carer, or another adult you trust, this might be a teacher or youth worker or try one of the free helplines, (see the Children and young people mental health and wellbeing leaflet for helplines) …it’s better out than in! 

Mindfulness

• Why not try a mindfulness exercise: This video will guide you through a five senses mindful exercise.  

• This worksheet from Young Minds explains two easy mindfulness exercises you can try. 

• The Mental Health Foundation has produced this booklet to explain how you can use Mindfulness to support your mental health.  

Relaxing

Another technique is called progressive muscle relaxation:  This is particularly useful to do in bed if you’re finding it hard to get to sleep. 

For more mindful activities see: Mental health and wellbeing activities and resources.

Practicing self-care

It is important to practice self-care all the time not just when you are feeling low, this will help to maintain your wellbeing and will give you tools to cope when times get tough.