Juliet Snell, worked alongside BBC Children in Need’s “A Million & Me” programme from 2019 to 2022

We have long known that children’s mental wellbeing matters. Half of adults who have a mental health problem had experienced symptoms by the age of 141. Most of this distress is not inevitable and could be prevented. We even know how- with a growing understanding of the harmful impacts of poverty, difficult childhood experiences, stress and trauma, and the effective ways to support children to grow up emotionally well.

And yet, we can feel overwhelmed and helpless when we look at the news. Before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, one in nine children had a mental health disorder. The years since seem to have really impacted children’s mental wellbeing, with rates rising to almost one in six 8–10-year-olds by 20232, and already stretched services struggling to manage the demand.

In 2019, BBC Children in Need’s “A Million & Me” programme set out to create and grow systems around children, developing people and resources that would promote their mental wellbeing. The programme set out to explore how ordinary, trusted relationships can help.

We learned from the many partner organisations in the programme, and from the children who took part. Firstly, we found that relationships matter- children can and will share and learn about their mental wellbeing with the people they know and trust. Families, sports coaches, youth workers and teachers are brilliantly placed to open up everyday conversations about mental health.

The children we worked with reminded us time and again of just how vital fun and play are to their wellbeing. Moments of laughter, exploration, and imagination aren’t extras—they’re essential. We found that simply affirming this truth with families and communities—that every joke shared, every game played, every walk taken, and every imaginative moment truly matters.

It was really important for children to be able to access resources and activities easily. “A Million and Me” created digital and other tools that children, parents and others could pick up any time.

We really noticed the importance of creative self-expression. Stories, apps, dances, songs and games provided ways that children could learn words and other ways to describe their emotions, and they could learn about ways of sharing, coping and reaching out for help.

Earlier in this blog, I mentioned the worry we can all feel when faced with rising mental health problems and stretched services. For me, “A Million & Me” reframed the challenge. I would argue all of us are the mental health system- perfectly positioned to weave everyday magic that can improve the mental wellbeing of the children in our lives.

Whether we are parents and carers, youth workers, sports coaches or neighbours, we can all find ways to create moments of joy for children, open conversations about mental wellbeing and offer chances to create and explore. In doing so, you provide the scaffolding children need to grow up with mental wellbeing and resilience. For more ideas and activities on how you can take part in everyday magic, please visit BBC Children in Need’s Mental Health hub here.