Local charity offers support to children struggling with their feelings

Five pupils in every classroom are likely to have mental health problems

This week is Children’s Mental Health Week and the Banbury-based charity Standing in the Gap is promoting the wealth of tools they have to help youngsters cope with the strains of everyday life.

Five pupils in every classroom are likely to have mental health problems.   The charity has helped more than 2,500 children since its launch in 2017.

This week they are focusing on helping children manage their feelings so they don’t become overwhelmed by them.

Standing in the Gap has launched a free video to help youngsters and their parents to manage their “stress buckets”.  

The charity’s Clinical Director, Sam Game, said: “Things in life can fill up our stress buckets, leading to us feeling full and overwhelmed.

“However we do have a tap on our stress buckets which we can open to lower the levels.”

The charity is urging parents, carers and teachers to download the video, which can be used as a game with youngsters, and comes with a parent or teacher guide and children’s worksheets.

Bespoke guidance is also available for youth group leaders.

In the last three years the chance of young people suffering from a mental health problem has increased by 50 per cent.   One in six five-to-16-year-olds are likely to have a mental health problem with half of all mental health problems starting by the age of 14.

Mrs Game said a lack of NHS funding meant there was an average 10-year delay between youngsters displaying their first symptoms and getting help: “We bridge the gap in child mental health support with a programme of facilitated talks, workshops, online resources and bespoke support.

“We work in empowering partnerships with parents and schools to achieve emotional well-being in preschool and primary aged children.”

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Published: 05/02/2024 02:09pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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