Talking Mental Health – Duchess of Cambridge – kicks-off new video for kids and teachers

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has launched You’re never too young to talk mental health, the new campaign by the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.

The campaign kicks off with an animation co-produced by children and teachers.  It includes an introduction from HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, who is Patron of the charity. The animation is accompanied by free teaching materials. All are designed to help children learn the life-long skills to help them talk about ‘big’ and ‘small’ feelings.  Also how to listen to their friends when they need to talk.

A leaflet to help parents and carers start conversations with their children about mental health is also published. It features an introduction from HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

Every primary school in the England will receive a downloadable teaching resource pack this week including assembly and lesson plans to enable them to use the animation in school for World Mental Health Day.

By learning how to talk about their problems when they need to, children can prevent them from escalating.  The initiative comes at a time of increasing concern around child mental health.

Half of all life-time mental health problems start by the age of 14.  By locating the issue early help can be provided.

Materials to help are available at:  http://www.annafreud.org/

Kate recorded this back in January and before the announcement of her pregnancy.  It is her first appearance since the public were told another baby was on the way.  The Duchess has been involved in campaigning on mental issues for some time. Not so long ago Kate recorded a visit to a school

This is #DuchessofCambridge talking #mentalhealth https://t.co/PhPrtG6trA #AFNCCF pic.twitter.com/qJZOgRC1Oe

— YourNewsUKtv (@YourNewsUKtv) September 18, 2017