Children’s Mental Health Week 2026
This week (09 to 15 February 2026) is Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme, “This is My Place”, focuses on helping children and young people develop a strong sense of belonging in their classrooms, playgrounds, and communities.
A sense of belonging is vital for mental wellbeing. We know that, when children and young people feel accepted and valued, they are more likely to thrive emotionally and academically.
At GMMH, our Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) services assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. Our support covers depression, problems with food, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bipolar, schizophrenia and anxiety, to name a few.
To find out more about the CAMHS services that we offer, visit Child and Adolescent Mental Health or speak with your GP.
Get involved
In honour of Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, we are sharing a range of support, and resources available to children, young people, and their families and carers; alongside photos and updates from activities taking place across our services!
Please see below an overview of the information/resources/activities; and do look out for posts on our social media channels where we will be highlighting them too.
Help us promote the resources and support available by liking, resharing and posting, making sure to tag GMMH and Place2Be:
- X - @GMMH_NHS and @Place2Be
- Instagram - @GMMH_N and @_Place2Be
- Facebook - @GMMentalHealth and @Place2BeCharity
- LinkedIn - @GMMH_NHS and @Place2Be
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #CMHW2026
Information and resources
Parents, families and carers
Are you looking after a young person going through a tough time?
We can offer:
- A listening ear and guidance
- Support sessions with the family
- Helpful resources
- Information and referrals to other services
To find out more about the support available, visit our Parent and Carer Support , and Carers, Family and Friends website pages.
Urgent mental health support
For urgent mental health support, for example if you feel mentally unsafe or severely distressed, you can quickly and easily access support by calling NHS 111 and selecting mental health option 2.
NHS 111 Mental Health is for people of all ages. This includes children and young people. It’s available 24/7, free of charge, and you can call for yourself or someone else.
You can also access NHS 111 Mental Health online by visiting 111.nhs.uk .
External support and resources
- Place2Be is the charity behind Children’s Mental Health Week, which officially launched back in 2015. You can find a range of resources, including top tips for families, on the campaign website.
- Kooth is for young people aged 11 to 18 and offers a variety of resources, including: A live chat function that allows young people to contact a qualified counsellor, chat forums with other young people, crisis information and self-help resources.
- Papyrus UK provide support to young people (under the age of 35) who are at risk of suicide. They operate ‘Hopeline UK’ to give people a safe space to talk through anything that is happening which could be impacting on a persons’ ability to stay safe.
- 42nd Street provide support and advice for young people’s emotional health and wellbeing. They offer a range of one to one support as well as groups and creative projects. You can access support face-to-face or online.
- Childline is a free counselling service for children and young people under 19. You can call their 24/7 helpline on 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill.
- The Mix offers free, confidential support, expert advice and a welcoming community, for people under 25. You can text 85258 for urgent mental health support.
Activities
Activities across the campaign will include:
Workshops in Wigan
Pictured: Wigan Mental Health Support Team
Read our latest Wigan Health Column about our Wigan Mental Heath Support Team (MHST) and the support they provide for children and young people, and their parents and carers across the borough.
Next week, from 16 to 20 February, the Wigan MHST team will be delivering a number of workshops for parents and carers at the Family Hubs across the borough.
These sessions will focus on “Stress and Perfectionism”, a common experience which can impact children and young people.
To sign up to an upcoming workshop, visit: www.eventbrite.com/o/wigan-mental-health-support-team-in-schools-71477241653. Alternatively, information will be available at your child’s school, or you can email us directly on wiganmhst@gmmh.nhs.uk.
To find out more about Wigan MHST and the support on offer, visit www.gmmh.nhs.uk/wigan-mhst.
Activities at Junction 17
Junction 17 (J17) is a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for young people aged 13 - 17 who require assessment and treatment for a range of complex mental health difficulties.
This Children’s Mental Health Week, we will be running a number of activities for service users, including:
- A footballing session by coaching staff from Bury FC for our service users at Phoenix Ward, following on from their successful session last year at the Gardner Unit.
- A wellbeing session with dance teacher, Beth, who will be promoting alternative ways young people can look after their wellbeing.
- Our regular relaxation group, a popular session which provides a space to for our service users to learn about mindfulness practices.
Activities at Cloughside College
Cloughside College is a hospital school for young people with mental health conditions. All young people at our Junction 17 inpatient unit have access to the college.
This Children’s Mental Health Week, Cloughside College is offering a range of activities and drop-in sessions, including:
- A ‘Practice Pancake Day’ all-day event
- A Safer Internet Day Session
- A Lunar New Year event, including activities, food and a celebration
