LFC Foundation and NSPCC encourage young people to connect with each other this Children’s Mental Health Week

This week (February 6 – 12) LFC Foundation are proud to support #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek ??

The annual event coordinated by children’s charity Place2Be aims to raise awareness of children’s mental health, and this year’s theme is Let’s Connect, encouraging children and young people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways.

LFC Foundation has a proud partnership with the NSPCC , which has its roots in the city as well as a Childline base at the Hargreaves Centre in Great Homer Street.

From April 2021 to March 2022, Childline counsellors in Liverpool and across the UK delivered 24,837 sessions with young people concerned about suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Matt Parish , chief executive, LFC Foundation, said: “Young people across #Merseyside have faced many challenges in recent years, so in many ways it’s no surprise that so many are contacting support services like Childline about their mental and emotional health.

“Sometimes, just speaking out about how you’re feeling can be a massive help. Whether they pick up the phone and ask how a friend’s feeling or knock on their door and invite a mate for a kickabout, sport is a fantastic way for young people to connect with each other and themselves. This Children’s Mental Health Week, we’d encourage young people to be kind to themselves, take a break whenever they feel overwhelmed, and if they need to seek out some extra support.”

The NSPCC’s Childline service is available to young people around the clock through the website, in private 121 chat or on the phone.

The Childline website also has a lot of resources and advice available to young people, including our monitored message boards which allow young people to speak with others their own age to see how they have dealt with similar experiences.

Darren Worth , Service Head of Childline said: “Mental health is something that thousands of children across the UK are struggling with and it remains the number one concern that our counsellors speak to children about every day.

“Whilst some are grappling with anxiety, others are experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings. Many of these children tell our counsellors Childline is the first place they’ve turned to and that they’ve not known who else to turn to. No matter what a child’s experience is, if they are struggling with their mental health, we believe that it is essential they get the support they need to help them cope quickly.”

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or at www.childline.org.uk where they can speak to our counsellors, to others their own age on moderated message boards, or access wellbeing and mental health resources and advice.

Adults concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000 or email [email protected]