Posted on: 9 February 2026
Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 in the UK runs from 9–15 February, with the theme “This Is My Place.” The 12th annual event focuses on fostering a sense of belonging for children in their schools, communities, and at home.
Children’s Mental Health Week takes place every February. It was started in 2015 to give a voice to all children and young people and to raise awareness of children and young people’s mental health.
Good mental health allows us to live life in a positive and meaningful way. When a child’s mental health is supported, it affects how they think, feel, learn, behave, and connect with the world.
It’s important to speak up about your thoughts and feelings. If you’re struggling, we’re here to help.
Here’s a list of the support available to children and young people across CNWL’s boroughs, including Milton Keynes.
CAMHS
CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) provides mental and emotional health services for children under 13 years old and young people aged 13 to 18. Our teams can help children, young people and families get the support they need.
We have six teams based across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon and Milton Keynes and two inpatient care teams.
Visit: www.cnwl.nhs.uk/camhs
Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) in schools
Our teams work in schools to support young people with mental health difficulties such as worries, low mood or anxiety. We work one-to-one with young people using guided self-help but we also offer group workshops.
For young people at school in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon and Milton Keynes you can speak to a teacher or member of staff.
REFLECT
Young people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes free and confidential mental health support 24/7, through the charity’s text messaging support service Shout.
People aged 11 to 25 living in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes can text the word REFLECT to 85258 to be connected to a trained Shout Volunteer.
The service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can help with issues such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Single Point of Access helpline
If you're in a mental health crisis you can speak to our Single Point of Access (SPA) helpline at any time of the day. It’s open to everyone, and our team can offer emotional support and advice.
Just a phone call away, free - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You can reach us by phoning 0800 0234 650 (London) or 01908 724365 (Milton Keynes) or emailing cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net. Both London and Milton Keynes telephone numbers are Freephone numbers.
NHS 111
You can also call NHS 111. If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health, you can also contact your local crisis service by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.
The Coves
The Cove is a daily drop-in support service for people aged 16 and up who are experiencing mental distress. The service is open between 2pm and 10pm, every day of the year.
They offer a friendly, safe and welcoming space to receive emotional support and discuss coping strategies to help young people in the future. They aim to help young adults reduce their immediate worries and provide them with information of local services and resources that will also be able to help them moving forward.
The Cove has sites for residents of Hillingdon, Brent, Harrow, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster. www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/coves
In this video, you’ll hear from a young person who has visited the Cove, who tells you more about what to expect.
Young Person’s Sanctuary Milton Keynes
CNWL CAMHS is working with Mind BLMK to provide crisis services for young people in need of mental health support.
Young Person’s Sanctuaries are safe, non-judgemental drop-in’s that you can come to if you find yourself in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. You will be met by a trained youth mental health worker who will listen and help you identify ways to address the problems you are facing.
Visit: Young Person’s Sanctuary Milton Keynes - Mind BLMK (mind-blmk.org.uk)
STRIDES
STRIDES (Support to Recovery in Disordered Eating Service) help young people understand their problems and provide skills to regulate eating and exercise, manage difficult emotions, and improve body image and self-esteem in the long-term.