This week’s discussion point from me is about paddling and Children’s Mental Health Week. Children’s Mental Health Week – from Place2Be, the children’s mental health charity – runs from 1st to 7th of February and exists to raise awareness of and shine a spotlight on the mental health of our children and young people.
One in ten children in the UK aged 5-16 have a diagnosable mental health condition and one in four adults experience mental health issues every year (First Aid for Mental Health, InstructUK Resources, 2019). Poor mental health can affect all areas of our lives on a day-to-day basis and with such worrying statistics that are likely to worsen given the global coronavirus pandemic, mental health and our care of it should be high on all of our agendas.
This year’s theme from Place2Be is ‘Express Yourself’ and they are encouraging and supporting creativity to express thoughts, feelings and ideas such as through photography, film, dance, drama, art, music, writing and poetry in order to help our children and young people to feel better about themselves – and adults can join in too! On their website they have a number of resources and ideas to support this year’s theme with further information on how to get involved for schools, youth groups, parents, carers, individuals and businesses.
Do you have children or young people who paddle or who you paddle with or perhaps you coach them through your paddle club or centre? What impact on their mental health have you witnessed through their participation in paddlesport generally? What about since March 2020 with our repeated lockdowns, social distancing and other restrictions? What examples do you have with paddling in mind of how you’ve helped our children and young people look after their mental health?
Thinking back to your own time as a child or young person, what impact on your mental health did paddling have or if you didn’t, do you think it would have had?
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