By Mike North

1. Module Two:
Understanding Children and Young People
& Ministry Practice

2. Mental health and wellbeing
Mental Health Awareness
Week 2024 will take place
from 13 to 19 May, on the
theme of "Movement: Moving
more for our mental health".
twitter.com/mentalhealth
facebook.com/mentalhealthfoundation
instagram.com/mentalhealthfoundation

3. Mental health and wellbeing
What are we talking about?
Anxiety disorders
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
Bipolar Disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder.
Depression.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder.
Eating Disorders.
Loneliness
Stress or worry
Identity confusion
Self care
Coping strategies
The Context
• Pandemic
• Academic catch up
• Social media
• Family breakdown
• Bullying
• Abuse
• Cost of living crisis
• Ukraine – Russia war
• Political unease
• AI

4. Mental health and wellbeing
What are we talking about?
The latest projected figures (NHS data) reveal 1,239,838
young people aged between 0-18 were referred for
mental health support in 2022. A large number are
yet to be treated and remain on waiting lists. This
compares to 812,070 in 2019.
Early intervention makes a big difference.

5. Mental health and wellbeing
Professor of
Neurobiology &
Ophthalmology at
Stanford Medicine
Host of the Huberman
Lab podcast
Focused on science &
health research &
public education

6. Mental health and wellbeing
mercymultiplied.com/14-scriptures-mental-health

7. Mental health and wellbeing
What can we do?
• Mental Health First Aid (youth)
• Improve our own mental health (model it)
• Promote a healthy life-style (talk about your
interests)
• Enable young people to experience good mental
health choices (exercise, healthy eating,
conversation, daylight, spiritual disciplines, deep
relationships…)
• Spot signs and signpost to support
• Relational youth work
• Meet needs

8. Mental health and wellbeing
Bible help
biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-
about-mental-illness/

9. Mental health and wellbeing
youngminds.org.uk/professional
mind.org.uk/for-young-people
youngminds.org.uk/professional/find-a-course
childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/well-being
Some signposts
kintsugihope.com

10. Mental health and wellbeing
https://tinyurl.com/
stateofthenationreport

11. Mental health and wellbeing
Questions
• How is your own mental health, and
how could you improve it?
• What could you do to promote
positive mental health with your
young people / children?
• How could you support someone
struggling with their mental health?

12. Module Two:
Understanding Children and Young People
& Ministry Practice