A Child's Voice Programme: Promoting Mental Health, Resilience, and Crisis Support in the Classroom

The A Child's Voice Programme is a school-based initiative that empowers students (ages 8-18) to understand and express their feelings, emotions, and behaviours, while also teaching them how to seek support in times of crisis. The programme is designed to help students recognise how their emotions impact their mental health and wellbeing and provide them with practical tools to cope with difficult situations. The ultimate goal is to create a safe, supportive classroom environment where students can thrive emotionally and academically.

1. Understanding Emotions, Behaviours, and Wellbeing

A core element of the A Child's Voice Programme is teaching students how emotions, feelings, and behaviours are deeply connected to their overall wellbeing. By understanding this relationship, students can begin to recognise how their emotions influence their thoughts, actions, and relationships with others.

In the classroom, teachers can use the programme to facilitate discussions and activities that help students identify emotions like anger, stress, sadness, or anxiety, and explore how these feelings impact their actions and mental state. Mindfulness exercises, journaling, and group activities can be used to foster self-awareness and emotional regulation, supporting students in recognising early signs of stress or emotional difficulty.

2. Teaching Crisis Support and How to Seek Help

An essential part of the A Child's Voice Programme is providing students with clear, actionable steps on how to get support in a crisis. Whether dealing with emotional distress, bullying, family problems, or mental health challenges, students are taught who to reach out to and how to ask for help when they need it most through the safety planning session. 

Classroom activities will focus on:

• Understanding what constitutes a crisis (emotional or physical).

• Recognising warning signs of distress in themselves and others.

• Learning how to approach a trusted adult, whether that be a teacher, school counsellor, or a parent.

• Familiarising students with support services, both inside and outside of school (like child helplines, mental health services, or online support networks).

By creating clear pathways to support, the programme helps students feel more confident in taking action when they feel overwhelmed or unsafe.

3. Building Emotional Resilience and Self-Regulation

The A Child’s Voice Programme emphasises the development of emotional resilience, teaching students how to manage difficult emotions in healthy ways. Students learn practical strategies to cope with stress, anxiety, frustration, or sadness—skills that are essential for both their academic success and mental wellbeing.

Through resilience-building exercises, students will:

• Learn to reframe negative thoughts and adopt more positive coping strategies.

• Practice breathing techniques, mindfulness, and grounding exercises to manage anxiety or emotional overwhelm.

• Engage in problem-solving skills and how to handle conflict or stressful situations in a constructive way.

These techniques enable students to regulate their emotions, even during challenging or high-pressure moments, and help them navigate academic pressures, peer relationships, or family difficulties with greater emotional intelligence.

4. A Holistic Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing

By addressing the connection between feelings, emotions, and behaviour, the A Child’s Voice Programme promotes holistic wellbeing—where emotional health is recognised as just as important as academic success. The programme creates a balanced approach that empowers students to manage their own mental health and understand the impact of their emotional state on their behaviour and wellbeing.

In practice, this means that:

• Teachers and staff are trained to identify changes in behaviour that may indicate emotional distress (e.g., withdrawal, aggression, or disengagement) and can step in early to support students.

• Classroom discussions around mental health and emotional regulation are normalised, reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations about feelings and challenges.

The programme provides both individual and group strategies that foster a safe space for self-expression, reflection, and mutual support.

5. Early Intervention and Support for All Students

The A Child’s Voice Programme emphasises early intervention for students who might be struggling with their emotions or facing personal challenges. The earlier a student can identify their feelings and seek help, the less likely they are to experience more severe emotional or mental health difficulties down the road.

Teachers and staff are equipped with the tools and training to intervene early—whether it’s through check-ins, one-on-one conversations, or referring students to the school counsellor. This proactive approach ensures that students receive the support they need before their emotional or mental health challenges become overwhelming.

6.Age-Appropriate Resources for All Year Groups
The programme is carefully designed to be age-appropriate, ensuring that children from ages 8 to 18 can engage with it in a meaningful way. For younger students (8-11), the focus is on emotional literacy—helping them recognize basic emotions, understand their feelings, and learn safe ways to express themselves. For older students (12-18), the programme explores more advanced topics such as stress management, mental health awareness, conflict resolution, and how to safely seek help during times of crisis.

All children will focus on the same subjects and topics, but in an age-appropriate way. For younger students, this includes starting to think about stress management, health awareness, and conflict resolution, while older students dive deeper into these areas. The programme ensures that each child engages with the material in a way that is suitable for their developmental stage, building a solid foundation of mental health awareness.

7. Integrating Crisis Support into the PSHE Curriculum

The A Child’s Voice Programme aligns seamlessly with the PSHE curriculum, particularly in areas related to mental health, emotional wellbeing, and personal safety. Teachers can integrate lessons on recognising emotional states, seeking support in a crisis, and building emotional resilience into their regular PSHE teaching, reinforcing these crucial life skills across various subjects and activities.

Benefits of the A Child's Voice Programme for Schools:

• Emotional Awareness and Regulation: Helps students recognise how their feelings and behaviors impact their wellbeing, giving them tools to manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.

• Crisis Support and Early Intervention: Students learn how to seek help in times of crisis, (and will be issued their own safety planning leaflet)   promoting early intervention and reducing the risk of long-term emotional issues.

• Promotes Mental Health Awareness: Normalises conversations about mental health and emotional wellbeing, reducing stigma and encouraging a supportive classroom environment.

• Improved Resilience and Coping Skills: Teaches students how to build emotional resilience, cope with challenges, and develop strategies for managing difficult emotions.

• Aligns with PSHE Curriculum: Directly supports the mental health, emotional wellbeing, and safeguarding objectives in the PSHE curriculum, promoting a holistic approach to student development.

By incorporating the A Child’s Voice Programme into the classroom, schools can create a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel empowered to understand and express their emotions, know how to seek support when needed, and develop skills for maintaining strong mental health throughout their lives.