Supporting Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing

Definition (National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy)

According to Australia's National Mental Health Commission (2021), wellbeing is defined as when children are able to feel safe, happy, and supported, and have meaningful, loving connections with family, friends, and community. A child who is well in this way is curious and interested in the world, they want to learn and can sit and reflect. They enjoy loving relationships and are able to bring themselves back from feeling upset when something doesn’t go as they’d have liked.

Supporting children's mental health involves creating environments where children feel safe, valued, and understood. Early childhood is a critical period for developing emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and positive mental health foundations that will serve children throughout their lives.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and behave in our daily lives, as well as how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. For children, good mental health is just as important as physical health—it helps them to learn, build strong relationships, develop resilience, and enjoy life.

Children’s mental health can be influenced by many factors, including family relationships, school experiences, friendships, and community support. Just as children can catch a cold or break a bone, they can also experience mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, or difficulties managing emotions. Recognising these signs early and providing support can make a big difference in their wellbeing.

Supporting children’s mental health means:

  • Creating safe, nurturing environments at home, school, and in the community

  • Helping children build coping strategies for life’s ups and downs

  • Encouraging open conversations about feelings and emotions

  • Knowing when to seek professional help if challenges become overwhelming

How do I spot Mental Health Concerns in Children?

Every child experiences ups and downs, but ongoing changes in behaviour, emotions, or thinking may signal that a child needs extra support. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members are often the first to notice when something doesn’t seem right.

Common Signs to Look Out For:

Emotional changes

  • Persistent sadness, worry, or fear

  • Frequent mood swings or intense emotional reactions

  • Difficulty calming down when upset

Behavioural changes

  • Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy

  • Sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns

  • Decline in school performance or loss of interest in learning

  • Aggressive, defiant, or disruptive behaviour

  • Excessive clinginess or separation anxiety

Physical and developmental signs

  • Frequent headaches, stomach aches, or feeling unwell without a clear medical cause

  • Regression (e.g., bedwetting, tantrums, baby talk) after they had previously grown out of it

  • Restlessness, difficulty concentrating, or being easily distracted

Social signs

  • Struggling to make or keep friends

  • Avoiding social situations or school

  • Expressing feelings of being unwanted, unloved, or worthless

When To Seek Support

Parents and caregivers should consider professional support if a child:

  • Shows persistent sadness, worry, or irritability that does not improve

  • Avoids school, friends, or usual activities they once enjoyed

  • Experiences frequent physical complaints (such as headaches or stomach aches) with no medical cause

  • Has changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels

  • Struggles to concentrate, learn, or cope with everyday stresses

  • Talks about feeling worthless, hopeless, or expresses thoughts of self-harm (Beyond Blue, 2023; Kids Helpline, 2022)

Early intervention is key—seeking help promptly can improve long-term outcomes and prevent difficulties from escalating (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021).

Where to Seek Help

Support can come from different sources depending on the child’s needs:

  • Trusted adults: Talking with a teacher, school counsellor, or mentor is often a first step.

  • Health professionals: General Practitioners (GPs), paediatricians, psychologists, and occupational therapists can provide assessments and support.

  • Specialist services:

    • Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – free, confidential support for children and young people.

    • Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) – support for anxiety, depression, and mental health concerns.

    • Headspace – youth mental health services across Australia.

    • Local community services – such as Aboriginal medical services or culturally specific support organisations.

Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but an important step in supporting a child’s wellbeing. Building a network of family, school, and professional supports helps children feel safe and supported in managing their mental health.

According to Australian Insitute of Health and Welfare:

  • In 2013–14, an estimated 314,000 children aged 4–11 (almost 14%) experienced a mental disorder. Boys were more commonly affected than girls (17% compared with 11%).
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the most common disorder for children (8.2%). It was also the most common disorder among boys (11%).
  • Anxiety disorders were the second most common disorders among all children (6.9%), and the most common among girls (6.1%).

Play Based Experience 1

Emotion Recognition Puppet Show

Use puppets to act out different emotional scenarios and help children identify and name feelings. Children can participate by suggesting how the puppet might feel better or what they could do in similar situations. This builds emotional vocabulary and empathy while providing a safe way to explore difficult emotions.

Play Based Experience 2

Mindfulness Nature Walk

Take children on slow, mindful walks outdoors where they focus on their senses - what they can see, hear, smell, and feel. This activity promotes present-moment awareness, reduces anxiety, and helps children develop self-regulation skills while connecting with nature.

Beyond the ordinary

The When I’m Feeling book series by Trace Moroney is a wonderful way to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Each book gently explores a different emotion, helping children recognise, name, and understand their feelings. Reading these stories together opens up conversations about emotions, builds empathy, and reassures children that all feelings are normal. This helps them develop confidence, resilience, and healthy ways to manage their emotions as they grow.

“Happiness can always be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.”

Dumbledore

Mental Health Commission

Australia’s first National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy lays the foundation for a future where all children—birth to age 12—have the support they need to flourish. Recognising that half of adult mental health challenges start before age 14, this strategy shifts our focus toward early intervention, ensuring that mental health support is available before serious issues arise. It envisions a consistent, child‑centered system that brings together families, communities, schools, and services to nurture children’s mental wellbeing from the very start

 

Guided by four pillars—Family & Community, Service System, Education Settings, and Evidence & Evaluation—the Strategy maps out actions for a strengthened national response to child mental health needs. It champions a wellbeing continuum approach, promoting support before a formal diagnosis is required and treating mental health as a dynamic spectrum of functioning rather than a fixed label.

Ways to help children relax 

Below are books to read about Emotions

Fill a Bucket introduces children to the idea that everyone carries an invisible “bucket” that represents their feelings. When we do kind and thoughtful things, our bucket fills up, and when we are unkind or hurtful, it empties. This story helps children understand empathy, kindness, and the impact of their actions on themselves and others. For parents and caregivers, it provides a simple metaphor for teaching children about emotional wellbeing, resilience, and the importance of building positive relationships.

You can purchase a copy of this book from Fill A Bucket: A Guide to Daily Hap..., Katherine Marti | eBay Australia

The Invisible String reassures children that no matter where they are, they are always connected to the people they love through an invisible string of love. This gentle story is particularly helpful for children dealing with separation anxiety, grief, or change. For parents and community members, it serves as a tool to start conversations about loss, family bonds, and emotional security, reinforcing the idea that children are never truly alone in their feelings.

You can purchase a copy of this book from Invisible String Exclusive Edition - Patrice Karst | Target Australia

This series of picture books covers everyday social and emotional themes such as empathy, feelings, families, safety, and problem-solving. Each story presents real-life situations children may face, followed by strategies for managing emotions and behaviour in healthy ways. For parents, educators, and community members, these books provide practical language and scenarios to guide children in learning self-regulation, resilience, and social skills, making them valuable resources for supporting children’s mental health in both home and school settings.

You can purchase a copy of this book from https://tinyurl.com/37rkdauz

Below are additional links for more information

For parents, caregivers, and community members wanting to learn more, there are many trusted organisations that provide practical advice, fact sheets, and professional guidance on supporting children’s mental health.

Beyond Blue – Children and Young People

Beyond Blue provides practical information, strategies, and resources for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Parents can find fact sheets on anxiety, depression, and coping skills, along with links to support services.

Raising Children Network

Funded by the Australian Government, this site offers evidence-based advice for parents and caregivers. It covers child development, behaviour, mental health, and parenting strategies across all ages. The mental health section includes guides on spotting concerns, resilience building, and where to seek help.

Kids Helpline – Parents and Carers

Kids Helpline has a dedicated section for parents and carers with advice on supporting children through challenges such as stress, bullying, friendships, and mental health concerns. It also provides guidance on when to seek extra help and how to have open conversations with kids about emotions.

 Headspace – Parents and Carers

Although Headspace primarily supports young people aged 12–25, their parent and carer section is valuable for families with older children. It offers information on understanding mental health, communication strategies, and supporting young people through challenges.

References

 

Australian Government Department of Health. (2021). National mental health and wellbeing strategy. Commonwealth of Australia.

Beyond Blue. (2023). Children and young people. https://www.beyondblue.org.au

Children Books Trace Moroney’s When I’m Feeling Series (Set of 10) - CPD Singapore Education Services Pte Ltd. (2024, November 8). CPD Singapore Education Services Pte Ltd. https://cpdsingapore.com/product/children-books-trace-moroneys-when-im-feeling-series-set-of-10/

Graves, S. (2017). Our emotions and behaviour series. Free Spirit Publishing.

Headspace. (2023). Information for parents and carers. https://headspace.org.au/family

Health, M. (2024, April 2). National children’s mental health and wellbeing strategy. National Mental Health Commission. https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/projects/childrens-strategy

Karst, P. (2018). The invisible string. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Kids Helpline. (2022). Parents and carers. https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents

McCloud, C., & Martin, K. (2008). Fill a bucket: A guide to daily happiness for young children. Ferne Press.

Raising Children Network. (2023). Children’s mental health. https://raisingchildren.net.au

Roffey, S. (2017). The ASPIRE principles and pedagogy for the teaching of social and emotional learning. International Journal of Emotional Education, 9(2), 21–35.

World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health and wellbeing: Children and adolescents. https://www.who.int/