This is My Place – Children’s Mental Health Week 2026

Children’s Mental Health Week, hosted by the charity Place2Be, raises awareness about children’s emotional wellbeing, and runs from February 9-15, 2026.

This years theme “This is My Place,” focuses on belonging and identity, with resources for families and schools to explore self-awareness.

What does “belonging” mean to you?

Belonging can mean:

• Feeling like you have a place or a set of people where you feel welcomed
• The home you belong to with your family
• Feeling a connection with something – like you’re meant to be there
• Feeling like you fit in
• Having friends
• Being part of a club or group
• Being with people who love and care about you

What do young people in Suffolk say about ‘belonging and feeling included’?

The Source team have been exploring with students at Westwood Primary School in Lowestoft, and The Abbey at Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds, who are both part of Suffolk’s Multi-Schools Council, about their feelings around belonging and inclusion in education. The below video has been created to share young people’s voices around – How does school make them feel like they belong? And How do they help make other people feel included?

How can I help support Children’s Mental Health Week and its theme of belonging?

Help celebrate children’s mental health week with your school, friends and family by helping others who may be feeling left out.
Feeling like we belong and fit in is very important to our social and emotional wellbeing…

How we feel when we belong…

“Emotionally, belonging makes us feel secure, supported and accepted – valued for who we are no matter our differences or similarities.”

Tips to help someone to feel included:

• Look out for those around you who look lonely or left out when playing a game or activity – invite them to join in, chat to them or sit with them to help them feel included.
  
• Be kind – bullying isolates people
  
• Celebrate each others differences as well as similarities – be respectful of peoples backgrounds and experiences.
  
• Encourage a friend to speak to someone they trust if they are struggling.

Find out more and download Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week resources for your school/college/setting to take part.

Our resources for children’s mental health week

Kooth webinars for Children’s Mental Health Week