Good mental health is one of the greatest gifts we can give a child.
It shapes how they cope with setbacks, build friendships, learn at school, and see their own future. Yet for a growing number of children in the UK and around the world, that foundation is under strain. Mental health support for children isn't a luxury - it's a fundamental part of every child's wellbeing and development, and it's something every child deserves, wherever they grow up.
This page explains why children's mental health matters, how needs change as children grow, the warning signs to watch for, what puts a child's wellbeing at risk, how to find professional support, and how Save the Children works alongside children, families, schools and communities to help children feel safe, supported and able to thrive.
Why children's mental health matters
Children's mental health underpins almost everything else in their lives: their ability to learn, form relationships, regulate their emotions and believe in their own potential. Get it right, and children build the confidence, self-esteem and resilience to navigate whatever comes their way. Get it wrong, and the effects can follow a child well into adulthood.
The scale of the challenge is significant. Around one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds worldwide lives with a mental health condition, most commonly anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders. One third of these mental health conditions emerge before age 14 and half before age 18. In England, around 1 in 5 (20.3%) of 8 to 16-year-olds have a probable mental disorder, a figure that has held broadly steady since 2022 after rising sharply from 2017.
None of this means poor mental health is inevitable. It means childhood is the moment where prevention and early support have the biggest impact, and where organisations like Save the Children can make the most difference.
Children's colouring book and assessment paper at a Safe Space Miguel Vera/ Save the Children
How Save the Children supports children's mental health
Wherever we work, we build mental health and psychosocial support into how we help children, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
In Gaza, our safe spaces give children affected by conflict somewhere to play, learn and access psychosocial support alongside medical care. Twelve-year-old Amir*, whose home was destroyed and who was later injured in an airstrike, received surgery at one of our clinics before starting to attend a safe space for education and psychosocial sessions. His mother, Fatema*, says his mental state has visibly improved since he began attending.
In Ukraine, we've integrated mental health care and psychosocial support into every service we deliver, from case management for vulnerable families to child-friendly spaces, helping families protect and care for their children through the stress of war. In Somalia, our specialist services provide psychosocial and medical support to survivors of gender-based violence, alongside community outreach that helps reduce stigma.
Amir*, 12, during an activity at Save the Children Child Friendly Space in Gaza
Here in the UK, we know that money worries and hardship are inseparable from a family's wellbeing, which is why our Family Grants and Early Years Grants exist to ease immediate financial pressure on parents and carers, giving them more capacity to support their children emotionally as well as practically.
Beyond direct support, we campaign for change. Save the Children calls on governments, donors and international organisations to significantly increase long-term funding for mental health and psychosocial support, and to make sure services are built into education, health and protection systems everywhere, not treated as a separate add-on. It's a big ambition, but with the right investment and the right partners, we believe every child can grow up with the support they need to thrive.
How children's mental health changes throughout childhood
Children's mental health needs don't stay still. A toddler's wellbeing depends heavily on secure attachment and responsive caregiving, while a primary school-aged child is building the social and emotional skills that come from friendships, play and a sense of achievement.
Adolescence brings its own pressures. Teenage mental health can be affected by changing relationships, a developing sense of identity, school transitions, exam stress, and the always-on world of social media. It's also the stage of life when conditions like anxiety, depression and self-harm become more common, and when young people become more aware of the wider world, from the cost of living to conflict and climate change, which can weigh on their sense of security.
What stays constant at every age is this: children and young people who have consistent, caring relationships and access to support when they need it are far better equipped to cope. Support should always be shaped around a child's age, experiences and individual needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Signs a child may be struggling
Every child has wobbly days, and that's completely normal. It's usually worth paying closer attention, and possibly seeking support, when you notice:
- A change in behaviour that lasts more than a couple of weeks, such as increased irritability, withdrawal from friends and family, or angry outbursts.
- Physical complaints with no obvious cause, like frequent headaches or stomach aches, especially around school time.
- Changes to eating or sleeping patterns.
- Losing interest in activities or friendships they used to enjoy.
- Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless, or saying things like "what's the point."
- Signs of self-harm, such as unexplained cuts, bruises, or covering up parts of the body even in warm weather.
If a child is showing several of these signs, or if anything makes you feel uneasy, trust that instinct. Speaking to their school, GP or a helpline early is always the right call, and it's never an overreaction.
What affects children's mental health?
A child's mental health is shaped by a mix of personal, social, economic and environmental factors, and often by several at once.
Poverty is one of the clearest examples. Children with a mental health difficulty are more than twice as likely as their peers to live in households that have fallen behind on rent, bills or mortgage payments. Financial insecurity, unstable housing and reduced access to opportunities can all take a toll on a child's sense of safety and self-esteem.
Conflict and displacement have a similarly profound effect. Children living through war or forced to flee their homes are exposed to danger, loss and disrupted routines at exactly the age when stability matters most. Save the Children's own policy work on mental health and psychosocial support highlights how children in crisis settings face a significantly higher risk of developing a mental health condition than children growing up in stable circumstances.
Abuse, neglect, discrimination and other adverse childhood experiences add further layers of risk. None of these challenges determine a child's future on their own, but they do make the difference that timely, appropriate support can offer even more critical.
Children's mental health services and where to find help
If you're worried about a child, your first port of call is usually their school or your GP. Both can point you towards the right support and, where needed, make a referral to specialist services.
Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, commonly known as CAMHS, are the NHS's specialist mental health services for children and young people, usually supporting them up to the age of 18. CAMHS teams include health professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses, and they assess and treat a wide range of difficulties, from anxiety and depression to more complex conditions. Many areas also have Mental Health Support Teams working directly in schools, offering a lighter-touch, more accessible first step.
Referral routes vary a little by area, but a GP, school or, in some areas, a young person themselves can refer into CAMHS. Waiting times can be long. NHS data analysed by the Children's Commissioner for England shows around one in 10 children in England now has an active referral to these services, with an average wait of 128 days from referral to first contact. It's a genuine gap in the system, and one of the reasons Save the Children campaigns for greater investment in mental health support alongside our own programmes.
While waiting for statutory support, free and confidential services can help bridge the gap. These include Childline for children and young people, YoungMinds's parent helpline (0808 802 5544) for parents and carers, and online support services such as Kooth, which many local NHS areas commission for young people.
If a child is in crisis
If a child talks about self-harm, feels unsafe, or you believe they're at immediate risk, don't wait for a routine appointment.
- Call NHS 111 for urgent mental health advice, any time, day or night.
- Contact Childline free on 0800 1111, or Samaritans free on 116 123, available 24 hours a day.
- If a child's life is in danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Reaching out early, even when you're not sure it's "serious enough," is always the right thing to do.
Activities and everyday ways to support wellbeing
Building emotional resilience doesn't require anything expensive or complicated. Small, consistent moments of connection and evidence-based activities make a real difference over time.
Our Happier Schools Project, created with SmileyWorld, offers free emotional intelligence lesson plans and activity cards for children aged 7 to 11, designed for classrooms but just as easy to use at home. Our family learning activities and parents' guide to play offer simple, low-cost ways to build confidence, language and connection into everyday routines, all of which support a child's emotional wellbeing alongside their learning.
Transitions can be a particular flashpoint for anxiety. Our blog on back-to-school anxiety shares practical, evidence-based tips, such as agreeing a simple "goodbye ritual," talking through what to expect in bitesize chunks, and using a visual plan so a child feels more in control of their day.
Joy* and her nine month old twins Evan* & Mitchell* play with the new Infant & Toddler Wonderpacks
Frequently asked questions
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How can schools support children's mental health?
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Schools play a huge role in a child's emotional wellbeing, often spotting early signs of distress before anyone else does. Creating a safe, inclusive environment, offering pastoral support, encouraging positive relationships between pupils and staff, and knowing how to refer a child to specialist support when needed all make a real difference. Free resources like our Happier Schools Project give teachers ready-made emotional intelligence lessons to build these skills in the classroom. Schools can't do this alone, though. The strongest results come when schools, families and communities work together.
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What is CAMHS and what age does it support?
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CAMHS stands for Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, the NHS's specialist service for assessing and treating mental health conditions in children and young people. It typically supports children and young people up to the age of 18, after which they may transition to adult mental health services. A GP or school can usually make a referral.
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How do you talk to children about mental health?
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Start with open, age-appropriate conversations and plenty of listening. Children are more likely to open up when they feel there's no "wrong" answer and no judgement waiting for them. Choose a calm moment, follow their lead, and reassure them that whatever they're feeling is valid. If a child mentions something that worries you, or if you're not sure how to respond, it's always worth speaking to their school or a GP for guidance.
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How does poverty affect children's mental health?
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Poverty can affect a child's mental health through financial insecurity, unstable housing, food insecurity, and reduced access to opportunities like clubs, trips or quiet space to study. Children in low-income households are also more likely to witness parents under stress, which can add to a child's own worry. Poverty doesn't decide a child's future, but it does raise the barriers they face, which is why Save the Children works to ease financial pressure on families through grants and campaigns to reduce child poverty. Find out more about our UK work.
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What mental health support is available for children?
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Support can come through schools, NHS-funded children's mental health services like CAMHS, GPs, and community and voluntary organisations. It's free at the point of use. If you're worried about a child, the best first step is usually to speak to their school or GP, who can help identify what's needed and, where appropriate, make a referral. Save the Children contributes to this wider system through our own programmes, our partnerships with schools and health services, and our advocacy for better-funded, more accessible mental health support for every child.
Page last updated July 2026
*Names changed to protect identities
