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This week is Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, a time to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

The theme for this year’s week of action is This is My Place, which aims to support the systems around children and young people to help them feel they belong.

This year, we’ve connected with two young people to find out what Children’s Mental Health Week means to them.

Meet previous DBT service user, Jess, in this short film to hear about where she feels safe:

https://vimeo.com/oxleasnhs/this-is-my-place-jess

A young person with lived experience of CAMHS has also written a poem to share during this important week:

My Burden

Mental health, what is it? 
Such a burden to some, 
When faced with anxiety, 
How overwhelming it can become.

Such a stigma, ‘Mental Health’,

We simply drown the word out, 
With denial and suppression
To feel, there is nowt

Cries for help escape my lips, 
But there’s no one to listen, 
This burden I carry, 
My mind, trapped in its prison.

I did make it, you can too so hear my advice
I escaped this living hell
Through talking, being brave
No longer do I dwell. 

Reach out, seek support
Your burden will feel lighter, 
Talk it out, write it down, 
I promise you’re a fighter

The battle is long from over dear viewer
But like me, you’ll get better, your burdens will be fewer.

Place 2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week has taken place every February since 2015 to give a voice to all children and young people and to raise awareness of children and young people’s mental health. 

You can find out more on Place 2Be’s website at: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/