Wishart highlights Children’s Mental Health Week

Shetland MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat, Beatrice Wishart, has highlighted Children’s Mental Health Week (5^th – 11^th February 2024). The week is run by children’s mental health charity Place2Be and hopes to help equip, empower and give a voice to children across the UK.

This year’s theme is ‘My Voice Matters’, demonstrating to young people that what they say makes a difference, hoping to build higher levels of self-efficacy and self-esteem.

According to the campaign 1 in 6 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health condition.

This follows last week’s Time to Talk Day (Thursday 1^st February 2024), a campaign to create supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health.

Wishart is a Co-convener of the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Mental Health. The group provides an opportunity for Members of all political parties, outside organisations and members of the public to meet and discuss the shared interest of Scotland's mental health and wellbeing.

Ms Wishart said:

“The pandemic highlighted the crisis in mental health across the country in people of all ages.

“It is really important that we get to grips with the mental health of young people.

“Helping people at a young age with early intervention can have a profound effect as they grow up.

“More about Place2Be and Children’s Mental Health Week can be found online.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Place2Be’s website: https://www.place2be.org.uk/

Children’s Mental Health Week campaign website: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/