#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
Mental Health Awareness Week
This year, Monday 13th May – Sunday 19th May marks Mental Health Awareness Week.
Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has been leading Mental Health Awareness Week, bringing together the UK to focus on promoting good mental health. Over 2 million people are waiting for NHS mental health services, and since 2017 the number of young people struggling with their mental health has nearly doubled, with 1 in 4 of us struggling with our mental health at least once in our lifetimes.
In honor of this, we want to shine a light on a selection of books that uplift, support, and give a voice to all children and young people. Books have a special way of helping us feel acknowledged and understood, allowing us to explore a wide range of topics. They can open up conversations about mental health and contribute to breaking down the stigma surrounding this important issue.
Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings by Swapna Haddow
Doctor Diplo is the Jurassic kingdom’s best-loved therapist.
Meet him and ten of his Jurassic friends…
Steggie the Angry Dinosaur, Rex the Scared Dinosaur, Bruno the Sad Dinosaur, Minka the Happy Dinosaur, Poppy the Lonely Dinosaur, Percy the Shy Dinosaur, Terrie the Excited Dinosaur, Trev the Overwhelmed Dinosaur, Iggy the Bored Dinosaur and Nino the Content Dinosaur.
This wonderful and fun full-colour guide on emotions and feelings for children aged 5 and up offers ten engaging read-aloud stories that demonstrate tools for navigating different emotions. It also provides a great opportunity to start conversations about feelings in a gentle and approachable way, along with simple mindfulness exercises from Australian child psychologist Amber Owen.
Hug Me by Simona Ciraolo
Ever feel like you need a hug, a really big hug from someone? That’s how Felipe the young cactus feels, but his family just isn’t the touchy-feely kind. Cacti can be quite prickly sometimes you know… and so can Felipe. But he’ll be darned if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and, just maybe, that long-awaited hug.
A lovely, heart-warming picture book that addresses important themes of loneliness and isolation. This book encourages empathy and shows how even a simple act of a hug can mean so much!
The Best You by Nima Patel
From a firefighter’s bravery and a teacher’s fairness to the creativity of an artist, this book explores the different values which can make us the best versions of ourselves. Uplifting text and joyful artwork shows readers the importance of kind, strong, passionate and determined.
This inspirational, thought-provoking book from parenting coach Nima Patel celebrates the qualities children need to thrive.
What we need to succeed is already within us!
Courage Out Loud by Joseph Coelho
From Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho come 25 bold and brave poems for children. These waltzing verses for reading aloud were written to comfort and inspire!
This new collection contains mantras to be true to yourself, to help you feel brave, project happiness, conjure a smile, make you laugh and cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras and some are just poems that instil confidence and help children realize the power of their voices.
All these wonderful books and more are available to buy from our independent bookshop on Level 3.
Alternatively if you’d like to support us, you can shop small and pick these books up online at Bookshop.org, where we’ve put together a collection of more books that delve into mental health in greater detail.
If you are struggling with your mental health, please know you are never alone, your feelings are valid and you are so important.
If you want to learn more about Mental Health Awareness Week, or if you are struggling, here are some of the best resources:
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