From our 2025 Key Findings: A narrative study of young #women and #girls’ stories of their #mentalhealth and associated #support Read the full paper here: tinyurl.com/3v5bfrnt Check out the booklet: orlo.uk/dK3jo #resilience #belonging #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek

We’re rolling out new training to improve neurodivergent children and young people’s wellbeing in schools and help them feel they belong.💜 We estimate over 10,500 neurodivergent students will benefit from the programme, Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools, over 3 years.

3 ways parents and carers can help children and young people build a sense of belonging: ⬇️ #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek

At school, a curriculum that fosters a sense of belonging improves mental health and academic outcomes. Especially for those who experience marginalisation, according to @pbe.co.uk. Let's help children and young people develop their place together.

Research from the Search Institute shows that young people with strong relationships show significantly higher levels of resilience, confidence, and belonging. Let’s create strong foundations and relationships, and help children and young people develop their place together.

It’s Children’s Mental Health Week, and this year’s theme is ‘this is my place’, centring on belonging. Belonging matters. The relationships we build in childhood help us to form the foundations for lifelong mental health and wellbeing.

#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek theme this week is #ThisisMyplace as 'belonging' is crucial for mental #wellbeing. These 2 free resources help #schools & #teachers gain real-life data into how pupils feel about: School Life www.corc.uk.net/wellbeing-in... Relationships www.corc.uk.net/wellbeing-in...

Resources for families of autistic people: www.autismcentral.org.uk You can join our free events: www.autismcentral.org.uk/events or 1-1 sessions with our trained peer guides for practical guidance: www.autismcentral.org.uk/one-one Open to families of autistic people of all ages in England.

All autistic people can achieve autonomy when they receive the right support at the right time, for activities they choose to do. We all need to make sure autistic young people’s preferences are heard and respected.⬇️

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week theme is “This is my place”, focusing on belonging. Education staff, we’ve created a free toolkit of practical resources and activities to foster belonging: mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/resources/ch...

When a family goes through the loss of a child, attention often focuses on parents and carers. Siblings can be left carrying their grief quietly, feeling unseen and unsure of where they belong.

Winter can be like trying to function on a phone constantly on low battery. Everything takes more effort, energy drains faster and you need to recharge more. For some, the feeling lifts as spring comes. But for others it’s hard to shake. It can affect mood and daily functioning ⬇️

Did you know Mentalization-Based Treatment has been shown to reduce self-harm and depression in adolescents? In one study, 80 adolescents coming to mental health services several times with self-harm and depression were randomly allocated to either MBT for Adolescents or treatment as usual.

Book your place now for our next free #webinar So What Can We Learn From Lived Experience Experts in Research? Discover how meaningful involvement of #livedexperience experts can strengthen the quality, relevance & impact of #mentalhealth #research shorturl.at/Cwupb

Right now, we’ve calculated that there are around 115,000 women and birthing people experiencing common – often called ‘mild-to-moderate' - perinatal mental health difficulties who are not getting the support they need.

Autistic speech and language therapist, and our associate for England's National Autism Peer Education Programme, Elaine McGreevy has recorded this short, calming reflection from our Autism Central group coaching sessions 🌊 youtu.be/PBbaSJhBvO8?... #AutismCentralLearn

Are you a senior leader in a school or college? Would you take leadership roles during critical incidents? Join the UK Trauma Council's training on how to respond to potentially traumatic events that affect your school or college community: www.annafreud.org/training/cou...

For autistic young people at university, mentoring can be a crucial support. Join Dr Brian Irvine to learn about his research and explore how mentoring can become a tool for advocacy and institutional change: orlo.uk/5CZAj

📢 #BeeWell research with 25,000+ pupils aged 11–14 found little evidence that social media or gaming causes anxiety or depression. Wellbeing depends on support, connections, and daily life, not just screen time. 🔗 www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/t...

When using outcome & feedback measures with children & young people it's important to consider individual differences. We've created these 4 free guidances to support practitioners & services to develop practice & approaches to best meet individual needs 👀 www.corc.uk.net/outcome-meas...

UK young people are unhappier than nearly all their European counterparts.  Our partner @beewelluk.bsky.social’s founder is on @fabnhsstuff.bsky.social podcast explaining why we need a national wellbeing measurement in the new Schools Bill from the government: fabnhsstuff.net/fab-collecti...

We have resources for families of autistic people at www.autismcentral.org.uk You can join one of our free events: www.autismcentral.org.uk/events And 1-1 sessions with peer guides: www.autismcentral.org.uk/one-one Sessions are open to families of autistic people of all ages who live in England.💜

It's Season 4 of our Autism Central Podcast! We’re starting with psychotherapist and author Catherine Asta and her daughters Caty and Kristina, on navigating life with an autistic and neurodivergent brain, to balancing your own needs with parenting: www.autismcentral.org.uk/guidance/pod...

Our Young Champion Emily and Grace are calling for a National Wellbeing Measure for better mental health data, helping prevent mental ill health in future generations. www.ourwellbeingourvoice.org

Our CEO, Professor Eamon McCrory, reflected on how the mental health charity sector's history should inform the government's review into the prevalence of mental health diagnoses. Read his thoughts in CYP Now: www.cypnow.co.uk/content/in-d...

Do you work with people with complex emotional and relational difficulties – sometimes diagnosed as ‘borderline personality disorder’? Structured Clinical Management is a way for generalist mental health practitioners to better support people with ‘BPD': www.annafreud.org/training/cou...

Tiegan, our neurodivergent consultant, trainer and Autism Central Associate, has shared their tips on how to keep regulated, safe and happy during the holiday season. Watch their video with more ideas: orlo.uk/J5gYR

Self-care can be bubble baths, meditation and exercise. But it can also be staying in bed all day, venting, leaving all your messages on delivered, "let's leave this till the new year" and reminding yourself you shouldn't have to feel guilty about your decisions. 💜

Our CEO, Professor Eamon McCrory, reflects on our recent visit from HRH the Princess of Wales 🩵

Trusted relationships in childhood - where children feel seen, valued and loved, form the foundation for lifelong mental health and wellbeing. Relationships are not a luxury; they are the infrastructure of mental ill health prevention.

Are you working with family members of autistic people, or do you need personalised guidance for your own family? We’re commissioned by the NHS to offer free, online coaching sessions through Autism Central: www.autismcentral.org.uk/one-one #AutismCentralLearn

The review by Health Secretary Wes Streeting aims to build clinical evidence on #mentalhealth, #autism & #ADHD services. Read our CEO's comments here 👉🏽https://www.annafreud.org/news/we-respond-to-the-launch-of-a-review-into-the-diagnosis-of-mental-health/?mc_cid=a99476756f&mc_eid=e2b27319d6

Imagine you’re a fly on the wall of a family home. A child accidentally knocks over a saucepan while their mum is making dinner and ends up burning their hand. ⬇️

School and college staff! 🏫 Did you know we have an online resource hub for mental health leads? The hub is open for resource submissions from organisations across the sector until 23 Jan: mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/submit-a-res...

To truly support neurodivergent people – in education, healthcare or the workplace – we need a neurodivergence-informed lens. Yet the very systems designed to help often create distress for neurodivergent people especially for those from marginalised communities who feel these harms most acutely.

We loved coming together on 2 December for our conference Breaking the Buzzwords: Trauma, Neurodivergence and the Path to Equitable Practice! ⬇️ #AFBuzzwords25

The entrance to Anna Freud is looking a little different as we step into Dec thanks to our wonderful supporters at Spacecraft International, LAVA Advisory Partners and Google. Thank you for bringing festive magic to the children, young people and families that visit us!🎄

@annafreudcharity.bsky.social have created a new series of live webinars which offer practical tips, expert insight & lived experience to help #education staff strengthen their approach to #mental health & #wellbeing. Dates in Jan & Feb 👀 www.annafreud.org/services/ser...

Featured in our Key Findings booklet: Why do young men not seek help for mental health issues? We reviewed studies on what makes #mentalhealth help seeking harder or easier for #youngmen. The impact of masculine norms was a major barrier. Self-compassion was an overlooked enabler. #research

We need a national wellbeing measurement system to gather consistent data on the kind of support young people need. Our Young Champions just handed in letters urging the Secretary of State for Education to consider this. Stay tuned… 👀

Today marks our founder Anna Freud’s 130th birthday! 🩵

Join our free Autism Central webinar on 19 Dec with Pete Wharmby on the ‘brain motorway’, where we explore more about monotropism, flow states, self-regulation and stress management: www.autismcentral.org.uk/events/brain...

Did you know half of mental health problems start before a child is 14 years old? That’s why we need to focus on prevention – building good wellbeing from the start to help children thrive.

If you’re a researcher or a clinician working with children and families, join our training to learn a tool to help them families form stronger bonds and promote healthy relationship development 🫶🏼 www.annafreud.org/training/cou...

We welcomed a very special guest to Anna Freud today... 👀 Our Patron, HRH the Princess of Wales, visited us to explore how stronger relationships can help prevent mental health problems in children and young people.

One of the most important factors for good mental health is having healthy relationships. Yet the safe third spaces for young people to socialise and form good relationships are becoming less and less. ⬇️

That’s a wrap on our @corc-annafreud.bsky.social Forum! Today we’ve heard how we can use research, evaluation and measurement to improve young people’s mental health. This can support everyone from autistic people and those with SEND, to families within schools and the wider community. 📈🫶

We’re now delivering Autism Central for NHS England - a peer education programme for families of autistic people and their support networks. Sign up to the newsletter to stay in the loop: mailchi.mp/978d5e44ef42...

Our online open events are now live for our degrees with @ucl - MSc Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice, MRes Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, and MSc Early Child Development and Clinical Applications! www.annafreud.org/training/pos...

The government has published the findings of Professor Becky Francis’ independent review of England’s curriculum and assessment system, which hasn’t been updated for more than a decade. (1/3)