Thriving Children and Young People

Jumping Children
50% of mental health problems are established by age 14

50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 245

75% of mental health problems are established by age 24

It is estimated that 1 in 8 (12.8%) children and young people aged 5-19 years and 1 in 18 (5.5%) children aged 2-4 has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem at any one time6, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age7

It is estimated that 1 in 8 (12.8%) children and young people aged 5-19 years has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem
It is estimated that 1 in 18 (5.5%) children aged 2-4 has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem
70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age

It is estimated that 10,068 children and young people in Bristol aged 5-19 and 955 children aged 2-4 experience at least one mental health disorder at any one time8

It is estimated that 10,068 children and young people in Bristol aged 5-19 experience at least one mental health disorder at any one time
It is estimated that 955 children in Bristol aged 2-4 experience at least one mental health disorder at any one time

What are we doing?

We are working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all children and young people in Bristol – focusing on everyone aged 25 years and younger.

Healthy schools

Bristol Healthy Schools Logo
  • Our current focus is supporting all schools in Bristol to develop a ‘whole school approach’ to mental wellbeing – for the benefit of pupils and staff.
  • We have recently revised our Healthy School’s work and placed mental health and wellbeing as a priority in the ‘essential’ award that schools can work towards.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist Award

  • We have strengthened our Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist Award to help schools create a culture that supports positive pupil and staff mental health and helps those with poor mental health.
  • For our schools who have completed the Specialist Award and wish to undertake focused quality improvement work to support mental health and wellbeing, we have the Advanced Award here.

Sharing good practice

  • We are currently creating a toolkit to offer schools information on best practice for improving mental health and wellbeing, including examples of the excellent work already in place in our classrooms across Bristol.
  • We are also working with schools and organisations from Bristol’s BAME communities to better understand what a culturally informed approach to mental health in schools looks like.

Contact us:

If you would like to find out more about improving mental health and wellbeing in Bristol, or to get involved. Email: thrive.bristol@bristol.gov.uk

If you would like some support for your own mental health

Thrive Bristol does not provide mental health services – this is offered locally by the NHS and their partners. Information about local provision is available at Bristol Mental Health