This week, schools across the country are taking part in an important initiative; Children's Mental Health Week which is a time dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health of children and young people. It’s also a week where we reflect on the struggles students may face and the support systems that can help them navigate those challenges.

Children’s Mental Health Week, launched by Place2Be, aims to shine a spotlight on the importance of children’s mental health and well-being. The theme for this year is “Know yourself, Grow yourself!” in partnership with Here4You, supported by The Walt Disney Company’s film Inside Out 2, Children’s Mental Health week encourages open conversations in classrooms and beyond, helping students understand that mental health is just as important as physical health. At Etone we are encouraging pupils to discover how getting to know who they are can help them build resilience, grow and develop. At school we have had “Brew Monday” where pupils can sit, chat, craft and play games and talk about their feelings and emotions, Year 9 have taken part in our walk and talk a mile, which took place during form times, there was a dedicated assembly, each subject area created a starter linked to mental health and Just Dance proved extremely popular again during Friday break time.

For Blue Monday, there was a positive pineapple hunt for year 7 and 8 where they looked for the pineapple pictures displayed around the school and then had to work out what the positive pineapple word was. For staff there was a positivity post-box and staff wore bright coloured socks or accessories. Our Well being ambassadors also lead a secret mission where they hid sweet treats around the school for staff and students to find. Etone are proud they turned “Blue Monday” in to a positive.

The efforts put into Children’s Mental Health Week and Blue Monday are essential, but the impact shouldn’t end there. As we move beyond this special week, it’s important to continue fostering an environment where mental health is part of the ongoing conversation, not just something we focus on in times of crisis. At Etone we integrate well-being programs into daily routines, provide regular check-ins for students, and offer resources for parents to support their children at home.

At the heart of these initiatives is the belief that every child deserves to feel heard, understood, and supported. By working together, we can make a lasting difference in the mental health of the next generation.

Let’s remember that mental health matters every day of the year and with the right support, every student has the potential to thrive!