"Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where you're going."
Noam Shpancer
It’s important that children know that we can all sometimes struggle a bit with keeping a healthy mind – for example, overthinking about something that you can’t control and struggling to get your mind off it. They need to understand that if they aren’t always feeling happy in their mind, they are not alone in what they are experiencing or feeling.
Our role as adults is to help them learn strategies to support their wellbeing and mental health. One in 10 children are affected by mental health difficulties – so they need to understand that if their thoughts are getting out of hand, they’re worrying a lot, or they just aren’t finding joy in things they once did, what they can do about it or where they can get help.
Some children are naturally more anxious, such as those with existing phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorders. The current pandemic situation can make those anxieties worse.
It is, in fact, a caregivers calm and steady presence that fills the gap of developmental immaturity during the time's a child feels and acts out of control.
Angela Pruess
Looking after yourself and your own wellbeing is crucial to supporting your child’s wellbeing. Talk as a family about your wellbeing goals and how you can help each other to achieve the 5 ways to wellbeing for all members of the family:
This is a great tool for supporting the mental health of Londoners.
Whilst schools are closed, Enfield EP service are providing a Family Telephone Support Line Mon – Fri, 10am-9pm for any advice or help you may want with family wellbeing / Covid / your child’s behaviour or any other concerns you may have. Click on this link, fill in the form & you will receive a call.