Kids in Norfolk told #WeveGotThis
New campaign to help promote positive mental health
A new campaign is launching this week aimed at helping promote emotional well-being and resilience in children and young people.
Entitled This is how #WeveGotThis, the campaign will get young people sharing their top tips on getting through the pandemic via social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram. Its launch coincides with Children's Mental Health Week, which runs from 1-7 February.
Norfolk County Council is leading the campaign, on behalf of the Norfolk Children's Safeguarding Partnership, recognising the challenges that children, young people and their families are experiencing in lockdown.
There is also support for parents and schools, with activities they can do to promote children's well-being and a webinar for parents on emotional resilience.
A daily wellbeing challenge for families with younger children has also been launched and the council has already distributed 10,000 Big Norfolk Feel Good Fun Packs to families, with activities to do at home.
Access to a whole host of activities to enjoy at home can be found here.
Cllr Andrew Proctor, Leader of Norfolk County Council said:
"Norfolk's youngsters are facing so many challenges at the moment due to the pandemic so I'm very pleased that we're marking Children's Mental Health Week by launching a campaign that gets young people promoting positivity and supporting one another.
"I'd like to encourage all children and young people to take part and share how they're looking after themselves to open up a wider, much needed conversation about wellbeing. We've been working with young people to help shape this campaign and their enthusiasm and desire to help one another really shines through. I also want to thank Norfolk's young people for the important role they've played during this pandemic in helping to protect the most vulnerable."
The campaign and the daily challenge ling to the five Ways of Wellbeing which are:
Connect
Be active
Take notice
Give
Keep learning
The campaign will launch on social media platforms with #WeveGotThis to connect with children aged eleven and up. We're asking young people to film themselves explaining how they look after their mental wellbeing and share it using the hashtag to promote conversations about mental health. Young people can follow the campaign on Instagram and tiktok by following @Thisishow_Norfolk.
Norfolk Library Service has also put together a Reading Well for Children's eBooks list which features a host of publications for children aged between four and ten to help them understand and talk about how they feel. Plus, virtual storytimes this week will have a mental wellbeing focus.
Cllr Emma Corlett, member champion for mental health said:
"Norfolk's children and young people have experienced such a tough year. I have seen first-hand the impact that uncertainty and relentless scary news stories about death has had; burdening children and young people with what should be adult worries. Isolation from friends and family and disruption to social and educational routines has made this even harder.
"Milestones and 'rights of passage' such as leavers assemblies, transition to new school, GCSE, A' Level and BTEC exams have all been disrupted, with birthday and other celebrations scaled down. Despite this we have seen such resilience from young people, finding creative ways to stay in touch with friends, and doing a good job of looking out for each other. But we must be under no illusion the impact that this is had, and it is going to need our collective effort in the coming months and years to support the emotional well-being of all of our children and young people."
Alfie Randall, Young Commissioner, West Norfolk said:
"Young people are struggling now more than ever. It is essential we tackle this issue by reaching out to as many young people as possible during a time of such great need. Whether that's by connecting with friends and family getting outdoors for exercise or just setting simple goals. We hope to engage as many young people as possible through social media to guide them through this hardship"