One in six school-aged children in the UK now has a diagnosable mental disorder, an increase from one in nine in 2017.

Effective support from an early stage not only helps children and young people cope with challenging life circumstances, but can also prevent problems from escalating and becoming more serious in adolescence and adulthood.

Children need a way to process and make sense of their experiences, but as neuroscience shows us, simply talking about problems often isn’t enough. That’s where the power of creativity becomes an essential healing tool, because it offers the means for children to ‘work things out’ as well as expressing their feelings and telling their stories. In doing so, children can envision a better, more hopeful future.

That’s where the power of creativity becomes an essential healing tool, because it offers the means for children to express their feelings, and envision a better, more hopeful future.

Through our high-profile online event, taking place during Children’s Mental Health Week, you’ll have the chance to discover how creativity can be a life-changing tool for the children you work with every day.

Join us for this unique opportunity to engage with:?

Lemn Sissay, MBE
BAFTA nominated International prize-winning writer and broadcaster
After experiencing abuse and abandonment at a young age, Sissay turned to creative writing and performance as an outlet for his pain – leading to healing for himself and inspiration for countless others. As one literary critic commented, “From his sorrows, [Sissay] forges beautiful words and a thousand reasons to live and love.”

Now you’ll have the chance to directly interact with Lemn Sissay – and discover how impactful creative expression can be to help people overcome trauma and find hopeful, thriving lives.

Bessel van der Kolk, MD
World-leading trauma expert, clinician, researcher and author of the bestseller,?The Body Keeps the Score.
Dr. van der Kolk’s work not only illustrates the impact of trauma, but it also provides effective, scientifically validated methods to transform it.

Join us to learn the unique ways that trauma impacts the minds and bodies of children and young people – and discover how you can leverage specific, creative outlets to tap into a child’s imagination for profound healing.

Plus you’ll get access to an exclusive panel discussion on creative expression, featuring:

• Lemn Sissay, MBE BAFTA nominated International prize-winning writer and broadcaster
• Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, the world’s leading trauma researcher
• Dr. Radha Modgil, medical expert, broadcaster, and author on the use of creativity for well-being
• James Emmett, Place2Be Regional Clinical Lead - Midlands and North
• Myira Khan, Counsellor, Supervisor & Founder of the Muslim Counselling & Psychotherapist Network
• Tracy Jarvis, clinician, PESI UK Director and panel host

Register now for this unique and timely experience that will help you make a profound difference in the lives of children and young people!