Recent figures reveal a concerning reality: 466,203 children and young people were in contact with mental health services at the end of November 2024.
With rising cases of anxiety, low mood, and emotional dysregulation among young people, the need for early intervention and emotional support has never been greater.
This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week, led by Place2Be and taking place between 3-9 February 2025, carries the theme ‘Know Yourself to Grow Yourself’ which emphasises the power of self-awareness in building emotional resilience.
Understanding our likes, dislikes, fears, worries, motivations, strengths, values, and beliefs shapes our emotional responses and reactions. Developing this self-awareness helps children regulate emotions, focus in school, engage socially, and navigate challenges with confidence.
However, children are not born with the ability to self-regulate, they learn it through guidance and support. When adults respond with empathy, kindness, and reassurance, they help young people manage stress and build resilience. This ability to self-regulate is crucial for overall well-being and success in education and relationships.
At Northampton Saints Foundation, we are committed to providing young people with the physical, social and emotional support they need to thrive. Through our social and inclusion programmes, we offer vital mental health support, working with young people to develop emotional regulation strategies.
Our in-house therapist, Dawn Bere, plays a key role in this support system. Referral reasons for her services have included emotional regulation difficulties, anxiety, low mood, self-harm, worry management. Using a trauma informed approach has been key to building effective support alongside Cognitive Behaviour therapy, Solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, one to one and group sessions.
Over the 2023-2024 academic year she has delivered:
169 formal therapy sessions
79 one-to-one support sessions
22 meetings with parents
68 multi-agency collaborations
The Foundation also run workshops, delivered within a safe, holistic and exclusive learning environment to support their mental health and physical health. Topics such as emotional regulation and sleep hygiene equip young people with the skills to manage their emotions, improve their wellbeing and cope with challenges in a healthy way.
As the statistics show, children’s mental health struggles are increasing, making initiatives like Children’s Mental Health Week and the Foundation's work more important than ever.
Through early intervention, education, and emotional support, we can work towards lowering these alarming figures and ensuring every child has the chance to grow into a confident and resilient individual.
We remain dedicated to making a lasting impact on young people’s lives and together, we can create a world where children feel supported, understood, and empowered to navigate their emotions.
Reference Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics, Performance November 2024
