Sometimes, when a child’s mental health is at risks, they can’t change the really big things, sometimes things are out of their control. But the child can maybe influence enough things to help make a difference. The Imagineers reflected on their scenarios from the last session and improvised ideas for what children and the adults around them could do make things better.
Key messages:
- “Sharing how you feel helps.”
- “Stay strong by talking to someone.”
- Children need time spent on them and to be listened to. This make them feel valued.
- It is important to have someone to talk to that you can trust. The qualities that person should have is to be always there for you, make you laugh and a good listener.
Willow 10
Willow’s grandma passed away and she’s had sleepless nights. At home her mum and dad are arguing a lot and at school she finds her work hard and thinks she is bad at everything.
She feels sad about things in her life and she is only happy when she is doing things she likes, like baking and being outside. These things help her to escape the awful things in her life. She doesn’t feel like she has anybody to talk to.
Willow could do some things to change or influence what is happening. She could talk to someone about it and not bottle things up, she could do more baking to make pocket money to escape, she could change her appearance a little bit like dye her hair to build her confidence and make her feel better about herself, take a walk or cuddle her toys when her parents argue.
She can’t change that her parents argue or that her grandma has passed away. She can’t change how other people in her family behave when they are stressed. She can’t help that she isn’t able to concentrate on doing her homework.
She could write her feelings in a journal so that she can read it if she feels that way again- so she knows what to do and can learn from past experiences. She could maybe talk to other family and get help with solutions. Use noise cancelling headphones to block out arguing and let her focus on her homework.
As her friend, I would invite her for a sleepover at my house and talk to her about her emotions. I would bake with her and do things that she likes. I would talk to my parents to see if they could help.
Mandy 12
He was bullied at Primary School because of his name. He recently went to High School and he feels anxious about more bullying. His parents split up and now he lives with his step-dad and step-sister.
He is worried everywhere. Being at home makes him even more anxious than being at school.
He might not be able to stop bullying. Bullies can be permanent unless you change school. If he can’t change, then it might be hard for him to stay calm if people are winding him up.
He could change his name but people would still know. He could talk to someone he trusts at his new school, they might have knowledge and be able to help – it might of happened to them before.
Talking to someone is always good when your worried, but that might be hard if he doesn’t have any confidence.
As his friend I would annoy the bullies so that they know I’ll stick up for my friend. It might work but it could maybe make the bullying worse because more and more people might join in – I’ve found this out the hard way.
