Children’s Mental Health Week
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 and the theme is ‘Let’s Connect‘. 2023’s focus is about making meaningful connections because these are vital to our own wellbeing and especially to that of our children.
Today, organisations are becoming aware that a large percentage of their employees are struggling and they are seeing the resulting impact on their work. So many companies are supporting their staff in areas of their personal lives as it often encourages a positive work culture.
Over 12% of all workplace absences are due to mental health issues and it can often be that of an employee’s child. Still a taboo subject for many parents, sadly we don’t talk much about what it’s like for parents to juggle their child’s mental health period let alone what it is like whilst trying to maintain a job too.
In many work environments, efforts are already being put in place to support their employee’s mental health, but their children’s mental health struggles are not something that is often discussed or supported.
A recent McKinsey & Co survey found 53% of parents have missed work at least one day per month to deal with their child’s mental health.
Thankfully there are many ways in which organisations can support parents in the workplace. One of these ways could be to bring in an professional to talk to employees and provide practical advice on how to manage issues they have with their children’s mental health.
We work with many experts in this area, these include:
Dr Alex George is on a mission to improve mental health support for young people, by making mental health education compulsory in schools. He has become prolific throughout the UK in his campaigning for charities such as young minds. In February 2021, Alex was appointed by the former Prime Minister as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to the government.
Alex’s first children’s book, A Better Day: Your Positive Youth Mental Health Handbook was published in September 2022. A positive, accessible, and practical toolkit guiding young readers in how they can care for their mental health with confidence.
Dr Maryhan Baker is world-renowned parenting expert and psychologist. For over 20 years she has been supporting children with anxiety and helping parents raise confident, resilient children. She is now taking her expertise to organisations to help them support their staff who have children suffering with mental health issues.
Anna Mathur is a psychotherapist and bestselling author. She speaks to organisations on the topics of Mental Health and Parenting providing advice and encouraging self-worth. Anna also runs her own podcast, ‘The Therapy Edit’ as well as providing an informative, hugely popular Instagram page. Anna is particularly passionate about helping mums enjoy parenting whilst not letting it become overshadowed by the overwhelm, worry and anxiety that motherhood can often bring.
Raj Adgopul arrived in England in 2002 with £5 in pocket but went onto complete a degree and postgraduate in early years child Psychology. Today Raj is an Inspirational Speaker who continues to develop his own personal journey and uses his experiences to help others to inspire others. His speech titles include ‘Slum Survivor’ and ‘Re-imagine the Impossible Everyday.’
If you are on a mission support your employee’s mental health and wellbeing and would like to see how The Speakers Agency can help, please email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com or call us on +44 (0) 1332 810481.
You can read more about Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 at the Children’s Mental Health Week site, which offers practical advice and support. You can also show your support by donating to help vulnerable children with mental health issues.
