“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance” Oscar Wilde
Many of us will experience low self-esteem at some point in our lives – 75% of young people say that they’ve felt it at least once according to Young Minds. Learning to recognise low self-esteem and tackling it early can help prevent anxiety or depression developing.
Taking time to notice qualities that you like in yourself, such as determination, courage and kindness, can have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing. When we have a positive view of ourselves, we’re more resilient and able to cope when things get tough. We can also help those around us to build their self-esteem too. When you notice something that you value in a member of your family, a friend or colleague, let them know about their good qualities, and help them to notice what makes them unique.
Schools play an important role in helping children to build self-esteem and supporting their mental wellbeing. A Government Green Paper on children’s mental health published last year proposed better support for mental health in schools and closer links between schools and specialist NHS mental health services.
This year, Children’s Mental Health Week is encouraging us all to focus on ‘being ourselves’ by thinking positively, tackling low self-esteem and increasing our resilience. Primary and secondary schools are raising awareness with themed assemblies and classroom activities with free resources from Place2Be. Children’s Mental Health Week runs from 5th to 11th February.
Join the conversation on twitter using #BeingOurselves and #childrensmhw #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
