The Duchess of Cambridge has continued her focus on children's mental health by guest editing The Huffington Post UK on 17th February.
An editing office was set up in Kensington Palace and Catherine brought together some big names who wrote of their experience with mental health problems for "Young Minds Matter".
Catherine and William have put a real focus on this topic through their patronages and The Huffington Post UK launch of Young Minds Matter took the topic mainstream and was reported on around the globe.
Her Royal Highness as quoted on the website http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/young-minds-matter/
It is such a privilege to
have this opportunity to be Guest Editor of the Huffington Post today,
and to celebrate the amazing work being done to improve and understand
the mental health of young children. Young Minds Matter, being launched
today, is a new series where issues and work around the mental health of
young children will be explored.
Shortly after I got married, I started working with charities helping
those affected by issues such as addiction, family breakdown and
vulnerable children. As was to be expected, I often heard some
heart-breaking stories about lives that had been torn apart, with
devastating impacts for all involved, particularly children.
What I did not expect was to see that time and time again, the issues
that led people to addiction and destructive decision making seemed to
almost always stem from unresolved childhood challenges. It became clear
to me that many children - even those younger than five - have to deal
with complex problems without the emotional resilience, language or
confidence to ask for help. And it was also clear that with mental
health problems still being such a taboo, many adults are often too
afraid to ask for help for the children in their care.
It is time for this to change.
The mental health of our children must be seen as every bit as important
as their physical health. For too long we have been embarrassed to
admit when our children need emotional or psychiatric help, worried that
the stigma associated with these problems would be detrimental to their
futures. Research published today by the Huffington Post indicates
that around a third of parents still worry that they will look like a
bad mother or father if their child has a mental health problem.
Parenting is hard enough without letting prejudices stop us from asking
for the help we need for ourselves and our children.
Like most parents today, William and I would not hesitate to seek help
for our children if they needed it. We hope to encourage George and
Charlotte to speak about their feelings, and to give them the tools and
sensitivity to be supportive peers to their friends as they get older.
We know there is no shame in a young child struggling with their
emotions or suffering from a mental illness.
Of course, for some parents and carers seeking help is not so easy. When
families are short of time or money it is not always easy to know where
to look for help or advice. That is why we need schools and
communities to play their full role to help children who are struggling
in ways that are not always easy to see.
In the series of articles we have commissioned, you will be introduced
to some extraordinary people and organisations. You will hear from a
recently bereaved wife, confronting the reality that the depression that
led to her husband's suicide was with him as a 10-year old boy. You
will hear from people who have fought back from their own serious
illness to lead a change in the way we speak to children about their
feelings and challenges. You will meet some of the extraordinary
researchers who are asking important questions about the mental health
of young people, and are getting answers that will be of real benefit to
all parents and teachers.
I am so grateful to all those who have participated in this series and
to all those who will contribute after today. I am also hugely grateful
to all of you who will take the time to read, to watch, and to listen to
these stories. Together, we have the chance to make a real difference
for an entire generation of young children.
Young
Minds Matter is a new series designed to lead the conversation with
children about mental and emotional health, so youngsters feel loved,
valued and understood. Launched with Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of
Cambridge, as guest editor, we will discuss problems, causes and most
importantly solutions to the stigma surrounding the UK's mental health
crisis among children. To blog on the site as part of Young Minds Matter
email ukblogteam@huffingtonpost.com
Note from blog author:
This initiative has broken the ice and hopefully one day other parents, teachers and peers will support those who are anxious, sad, bullied or experiencing emotional troubles.
There are still too many adults who dismiss troubled youngsters problems because of prejudice, fear or they simply can't be bothered. This must change but those adults and teachers need to change before we can make lasting change for the children of today and tomorrow.
