Understanding child mental health

This course is for anyone who wants to better understand the factors that influence child mental health. If you want to enhance your work with children, families or parents, develop your understanding of child mental health, or further engage with Emerging Minds' resources, then this course will provide you with the necessary foundational knowledge to achieve those aims.

Direct work with children who are experiencing mental health concerns requires specialised skills that are not addressed in this foundation course. If you are concerned about a child’s mental health, you may wish to encourage the parents to contact their GP.

As you progress through this course, you will work towards being able to:

• Describe the factors that contribute to children’s positive mental health and wellbeing.
• Define the range of interconnected factors that exist in children’s relational and social world that affect their mental health and wellbeing.
• Recognise that children’s mental health and wellbeing are a dynamic continuum, from positive mental health to diagnosed mental health conditions.
• Explain the central role of the parent–child relationship, and how the parent’s circumstances, their parenting, and the child emotions and behaviours are interconnected.
• Begin to adopt the practice perspective that supports children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Its estimated that this course will take you approximately two hours to complete, including reading material and watching videos.

You can undertake the course across multiple sessions at your own pace. The last screen you visit before logging off will be saved and you will have the option of returning to that screen when you next log in.

As you work through the course, it is important to be aware of your own emotional responses. Please use the following self-care tips and seek help if needed:

• It’s not recommended you undertaking the entire course in one sitting. Give yourself some breaks. Even if you don’t feel that you need a break, it’s a good idea to take one anyway and come back later.
• Be aware of your emotions as you progress through the course, and take action if you are starting to feel stressed or upset. For example, consider taking a break and doing something for yourself that you enjoy.
• Be aware of your emotional responses after you complete the course too.

If at any point you find you are struggling, please talk with your supervisor, seek help, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or SANE Australia on 1800 18 7263.

For the purpose of this course, the term parent encompasses the biological and adoptive parents of a child as well as individuals who have chosen to take up a primary or shared responsibility in raising that child.

Social and emotional wellbeing refers to the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others. It incorporates behavioural and emotional strengths and is a facet of child development.¹

‘In broad terms, social and emotional wellbeing is the foundation for physical and mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a holistic concept which results from a network of relationships between individuals, family, kin and Community. It also recognises the importance of connection to Country, culture, spirituality and ancestry, and how these affect the individual.’²

‘Social and emotional wellbeing’ is also used by some people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, who may have differing concepts of mental health and mental illness.³

Social and emotional development involves the development of skills required to:

• identify and understand one’s feelings
• read and understand the emotional states of other people
• manage strong emotions and how they are expressed
• regulate behaviour
• develop empathy
• establish and maintain relationships.⁴

This course draws on the latest research, clinical insights, and the lived experience of our child and family partners. We’d like to thank the professionals and families who played an integral role in shaping this course, generously offering their time, wisdom and unique perspectives.

Watch the following video for a quick guide on how to navigate Emerging Minds Learning courses.