Young need stories to help them cope, adapt and belong

WHEN we talk about children's mental health, we often picture teenagers, exam pressure, social media and the storm of adolescence.

- Esther Marshall

Author Julia Donaldson has enthralled millions of children with her Gruffalo books

But many of the beliefs children hold about themselves are formed much earlier than we realise. Long before secondary school, some children have already decided they are not good enough, not brave enough, or not able to cope when things feel hard.

Children's Mental Health Week is a reminder that well-being does not begin in crisis. It begins quietly, in everyday moments, and often through the stories we choose to share.

I have spent years working with schools, and I am also a mother-of-three. However, my passion for early mental health support comes from something more personal. I lost my sister to suicide. She was a junior doctor under immense pressure, and her death changed my life.

Mental health struggles do not suddenly appear in adulthood. They are shaped through experiences, expectations and stories we tell ourselves about who we are allowed to be.

That is why confidence and resilience must be built early. Not as buzzwords, but as practical life skills.