Publish date: 6 February 2023
Children’s Mental Health Week launches on Monday 6 February and the theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Let’s Connect’.
At West London NHS Trust we’re encouraging people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding, and meaningful ways. Here’s a summary of some of the activities we have going on throughout the week to bring that sentiment to life:
- Join a ‘Let’s Connect’ walk in your local area of Hammersmith, Ealing or Hounslow
- Check out our new Lumi Nova digital app to support young people tackling their anxiety
- Look out for our mental health teams running special assemblies in schools in Ealing and Hounslow
- Learn more about the range of support we offer through our ‘Best for You’ partnership work with Chelsea & Westminster, Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust and CW+ charity
- Spread the word about a new crisis support café that has opened in Ealing – designed specifically to help children and young people from across North West London who are experiencing or nearing a mental health crisis. Read more about Circle here.
According to Place2Be, ‘When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health’.
Dr Johan Redlinghuys, Clinical Director for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) at the Trust says:
“Despite unprecedented demand for mental health services by young people, there is still support available to those that need it, when they need it. There are a very wide range of services available to young people across West London, designed and created in a way that tries to meet their unique needs in the best way possible.”
“This year’s theme of ‘Let’s Connect’ is a great way to get the message out there about the importance of keeping in touch with loved ones as part of how we look after ourselves and each other. It also reinforces the message that you should contact support services, such as those in the NHS, when you need more help”.
You can contact our CAMHS helpline in West London on 0800 328 4444 or visit our CAMHS website here.
