The first ever UK Children’s Mental Health Week received a royal endorsement this month when the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton delivered a rare video address in support of early intervention mental health support for young people. In the message, The Duchess says that both she and the Duke of Cambridge have seen that many children are struggling to cope with the impact of issues such as bullying, bereavement, and family breakdown, which for some young people can lead to depression, anxiety, addiction and self-harm if they don’t get appropriate support.
“Both William and I sincerely believe that early action can prevent problems in childhood from turning into larger ones later in life,” Middleton said.
The Duchess is the royal patron of Place2Be, a national charity which provides emotional support to children in schools. According to Place2Be, three children in every UK classroom have a diagnosable mental health problem, and depression and anxiety among UK teenagers have increased by 75 percent in the past 25 years. The organization launched the UK’s first Children’s Mental Health Week this year to raise awareness about mental health issues across the country.
“Dealing with issues early and helping children talk openly about their worries can make all the difference, and ensure that small problems now don’t turn into more serious mental health issues for adults,” said Place2Be CEO Catherine Roche.
To learn more about UK Children Mental Health Week, visit the Place2Be website.