Kate's support for children's mental health

As Children's Mental Health Week gets under way, the Duchess of Cambridge has lent her support by releasing a special video message with one of her charities, Place 2 Be. In the three minute piece, Kate talks about the importance of helping children and offering them the support they need to deal with emotional issues and gain strength as they grow.

The Duchess of Cambridge in a still from a video message in support of Children's Mental Health Week

In the video, tweeted this morning by Place 2 Be and Kensington Palace, Kate talks about the support children needs and also chats to pupils from Salusbury Primary School about how they use art to express their emotions and about the importance of sharing issues with friends and with supportive adults who can help. The message has been released as Children's Mental Health Week 2016 gets under way.

Be one of the first to see The Duchess of Cambridge launch #ChildrensMHW with a special video message.https://t.co/0r3BeqSBFa

— Place2Be (@Place2Be) February 8, 2016

Children's Mental Health Week 2016 is focused on building children's resilience and increasing their abilities to cope with life's stressful situations. It is supported by Place 2 Be - Kate is their patron.

The charity says, as the special week gets under way, that while it can't always alter the events in a child's life we can all help young people learn the skills they need to deal with the problems life can bring to them.

This #ChildrensMHW HRH talks about the importance of #buildingresilience so children can cope with life’s challenges pic.twitter.com/aR2baKu1KO

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 8, 2016

Kate has been a patron of Place 2 Be for several years and in recent months has really focused her work on mental health issues. Very soon, she will guest edit the Huffington Post to draw attention to emotional and psychological issues and she refers to her work in the area in the video when she talks about hearing how many adults with mental health problems found their difficulties starting when they were young. She urges everyone to do what they can to offer children a safe environment in which to discuss and deal with their emotional issues and with her support, Children's Mental Health Week has really focused everyone's attention as it gets under way.