Celebrating Children's Mental Health Week

Now in its 10th year, the theme for this year's Children's Mental Health Week (5-11 Feb) is 'My Voice Matters', and seeks to empower young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves.

Film can be an incredible medium to support young people's mental health and wellbeing, helping to illustrate complicated or difficult subjects in accessible ways, opening up avenues for discussion and emotional honesty, and helping them better understand their emotions and inner lives through screen stories.

And with this years theme of 'My Voice Matters', film can play an even greater role in marking this valuable calendar date. Filmmaking is one of the best and most accessible ways for young people to tell their own stories, get their voices heard about what matters to them, and channel their feelings through storytelling. Not to mention the potential benefits of teamwork and confidence-boosting than can come with a filmmaking project.

Below, we've gathered a collection of films, resources and articles that will help you support Children's Mental Health Week in your classroom.

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• Films
• Resources

Films to stream for Children's Mental Health Week

Each of the films below is available to stream for free* with Into Film+, and have themes that explore and support children's mental health and wellbeing. Some are feature length, and some are shorts, giving you the flexibility to use whichever best work with your schedule.

All of Our Shadows (Unclassified)

This animated short follows a day in the life of a young teenage boy as he faces his fears, concerns and anxieties. Made with the input of secondary students and focusing on what they consider to be the biggest pressures in their lives, All of Our Shadows is a visually creative take on difficult but valuable talking points among young people today.

Turning Red (PG)

A thirteen-year-old girl turns into a cute and giant red panda when she experiences strong emotions in this funny, heart-warming, and thoughtful film from Pixar that focuses on the complicated experiences and emotions of young girls at a pivotal time in their development.

I am Good at Karate (Unclassified)

A young teenager is forced to battle their demons, who have taken the form of a monster made of football shirts. Coming from a family with a long history of depression and anxiety, the youngster must find a way to overcome their fears and become a champion in their own mind. This film tackles mental health in the UK in a surreal yet relatable fashion, focusing in on the small things that give us strength.

Where the Wild Things Are (PG)

This adaptation of the classic children's book sees an angry young boy whisked away to a land filled with monsters, who make him their king. Exploring a wealth of themes, including how to handle your emotions, the power of dreams and imagination as a form of escape, and the importance of home and family, this is an excellent film to help children better master their feelings.

#tagged (Unclassified)

Experience 24 hours in the life of teenager Elsie from the perspective of her smart phone, as she discovers the dangers of social media. This is an anti-bullying short which contextualises and empathises with the pressures and pitfalls of modern technology.

Resources for Children's Mental Health Week

Below are a selection of curriculum-linked resources that explore issues around children's mental health and wellbeing, for both primary and secondary age learners.

You can find even more great films, resources, articles and more on our wider mental wellbeing page.