With an estimated 1 in 8 children being affected by mental health issues, anyone working with children must be able to support and recognise the signs. For this reason, enrolling on a Children’s Mental Health course is a great tool for bridging the gap and getting a child the help they need.
In these post lockdown times, mental health has never been so important and it can affect all age ranges. A huge part of a childcarer’s role is keeping children’s wellbeing at the forefront of their minds at all times.
You can help fulfil this responsibility by ensuring you know all you can about mental health and its issues.
What is Children’s Mental Health?
There’s always focus on children being physically fit and well. But having a healthy mind is equally, if not more, important.
Looking after mental health from an early age gives children the knowledge they need to lead a fulfilled and happy life.
Children must know they will face challenging times and feel able to reach out when it is needed. Exploring mental health and mental disorders from an early age can help to break the stigma that still exists today.
Children of all ages and abilities deserve to know they matter and they need to understand how to approach problems. Young children have so many feelings and emotions bubbling away inside them and sometimes negative behaviour is an indication of this.
Having the tools and training to support children who are struggling will help look after their mental wellbeing.
What Course Do You Need For Children’s Mental Health?
Although not a prerequisite for working in childcare, it is one of those training courses well worth adding to your skillset.
With mental health such a talking point in today’s society, it’s sadly almost inevitable that you will come across a child who is mentally struggling at some point. By taking some Children’s Mental Health training, you can understand the issue more fully. A Course will mean you have some practical ways of supporting the children.
About Children’s Mental Health Training Courses
Children’s Mental Health courses are designed to give childcare practitioners a fuller understanding of the importance of promoting healthy minds.
They equip you with the knowledge needed to recognise signs that a child is struggling to cope with their emotions. This training provides an insight into why poor mental health can be seen through certain behaviours.
Although there is no legal requirement to have a Mental Health Certificate in childcare settings, it is one of those courses that are so relevant today.
Being able to identify and support children early on will help them come up with coping strategies without problems being left to fester. Such training brings home a healthy thought process, where children can feel comfortable talking about their feelings.
What Do You Learn?
Some of the beneficial topics covered in a Children’s Mental Health Course are covered below:-
- Definition of mental health
- Some statistics based on mental health
- Causes and risk factors involved in mental health problems
- Covid 19 and its impact on mental health
- How to promote positive mental health
- Emotional disorders such as anxiety
- Different behaviour patterns
- Mental health policies
- Recognising signs of struggles
- How to support children
- Agencies that can help
Who Needs a Children’s Mental Health Course?
Mental Health Courses based on children will be useful for anyone who works with children under the age of 16.
This could include:-
- Schools
- Pre-schools
- Nursery Schools
- Private Nurseries
- Playgroups
- Childminders
- Holiday Clubs
- Before and After School Clubs
- Children Centres
- SEND Staff
FAQ’s
Online courses are designed so that you can go at your own pace but they generally take 1 to 2 hours and they will be worth repeating every 3 to 4 years to refresh your knowledge. If you have not completed one this side of the pandemic then it is well worth doing as Covid 19 has affected many children and their families.
