Children and young people can experience a range of difficulties in the area of social, emotional wellbeing and mental health.  Sometimes these difficulties relate to their relationships with others but other times they relate more to how they see themselves. Often, children and young people communicate their social, emotional and mental health needs through their behaviour.   

For some children/young people, they may appear to be withdrawn or disinterested in things that they previously enjoyed.  Others may behave in ways that attract attention to themselves or behave in ways that is sometimes described as ‘challenging’ or ‘dangerous’.  Typically, by altering their behaviour (either consciously or sub-consciously), children and young people are often trying to communicate their social and emotional needs to those around them.  

Importantly, children’s emotional responses, relationships and/or mental health can have an impact on their health, quality of life and wellbeing. 

Typically, children and young people’s needs are described as ranging from mild to severe. They may be short-term in nature as a response to a challenge that they are facing (such as moving schools, managing changes in their family, friendship issues) and as a result your child/young person may overcome these difficulties without additional help.  However, for other children and young people, they have ‘chronic’ or longer-term social, emotional and mental health needs that require more attention.    

Changes in behaviour can be an early sign of social, emotional and mental health needs as behaviour can be a form of communication. 

You can find out more on Learn Together.