Member News from TACT: Children’s Mental Health Week: This Is My Place

February 9th-15th 2026 saw the return of The Place to Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. The theme for this year is This Is My Place with a focus on supporting the systems around children to help them feel they belong.

Promoting a sense of belonging
There have been a number of theories and models published over many years which explore the benefits of children feeling that they belong including Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1957) and Belongingness Hypothesis (Baumeister & Leary 1995). It’s widely recognised across the health and social care professions that promoting a sense of belonging is not only required to help a child reach their full potential but is essential for a child’s overall emotional and physiological health. Research studies and findings demonstrate that when children feel connected, accepted, and valued within their family, school, and community – they are better able to form secure relationships, which supports healthy emotional development and positive self-esteem. A strong sense of belonging also reduces stress and anxiety, lowering cortisol levels and supporting healthy brain development, sleep, and immune functioning.

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