Chestnut Tree House
Focusing on mental health
Last week was Children’s Mental Health Week, a week to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health. Our counselling team work with children and young people of all ages, to help them understand and explore their emotions and cope with difficult feelings.
Children can often find it hard to process difficult emotions or talk about issues with adults. To support children through this, we often use play therapy. Play therapy may look like ordinary playtime, but it is so much more than that. Through this activity, we can observe and gain insight into a child’s world, help them explore and deal with difficult emotions and learn new coping mechanisms. I recently caught up with one of our social workers who told me that puppets and sand trays are particularly useful in play therapy, as it allows our team to go into the child’s world and really understand how they are feeling.
We also support siblings. Growing up with a brother or sister who has a life-limiting or life-threatening condition isn’t easy and finding people who understand this situation can be difficult. Our sibling events and activities give children the chance to meet others facing the same challenges, make some new friends, and express themselves in a safe environment. We have lots of exciting sibling events coming up – last year we even went kayaking down the river, and speedboating in East Sussex!
I want to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to open up – reach out, offer and ask for support, whenever and for however long it’s needed. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, remember you’re not alone. Friends, family, healthcare professionals and your child’s school will be able to help. If a child or young person you know is struggling after the diagnosis or death of a loved one who is, or was, cared for by Chestnut Tree House, we’re here to support you. Head to chestnut.org.uk for details of how to get in touch.If you don’t live locally, visit youngminds.org.uk
Results from St Barnabas Hospice’s lottery draw 893 – February 11:
Lottery no: From: First: £1,000 981648 Arundel Second: £250 643208 Hayling Third: £100 269578 Steyning
£10 winners: 710759 950841 757624 687727 487516 542963 918191 361436 791900 110194
£5 winners: 404369 487632 390045 271216 133909 167187 330155 834729 353231 301936