World Mental Health Day (10 October 2022) marks the launch of 10 Minutes Matter, a mental health campaign for early intervention in schools. The campaign petition calls on the Government to improve mental health by ensuring primary schools spend 10 minutes each day on students’ mental wellbeing.

Launching the campaign is the Happy Confident Company alongside a coalition of supporters including Emma Willis, Sir Anthony Seldon, Dr Linda Papadopoulos and Action for Happiness CEO, Dr Mark Williamson.

As part of the campaign, the Happy Confident Company is offering schools free access to its breakthrough video programme fronted by Emma Willis. Developed specifically for schools across 10 episodes, Willis guides children through psychology-based techniques to promote emotional self-regulation, happiness and resilience.

The programme is developed alongside therapists, parents, psychologists and schools. It draws on evidence that 10 minutes a day to instil positive daily habits can help create happier, more resilient and confident children, who can articulate themselves socially and emotionally.

Schools that have already joined the Happy Confident Movement have found embedding small, positive daily habits into a child’s routine, such as social-emotional learning, journaling and life skills coaching, can help to make an immeasurable positive impact over time.

Call for schools, education practitioners and the Government to officially implement 10 minutes a day for mental wellbeing into the school curriculum

Commenting is Nadim Saad, author, parenting coach and CEO of the Happy Confident Company. “We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis and consistent early intervention is a key part of the solution. The evidence shows 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of 14. And 70% of adolescents with mental health disorders are not diagnosed early enough. We need to be reaching children before that age, helping them understand their emotions and develop resilience to improve their lifelong wellbeing.

“The FEELIT social and emotional learning programme is founded on the latest research in neuroscience and has been developed in partnership with therapists, parents, psychologists and schools. We know it’s making a difference. It’s all about taking a consistent and science-based approach. Whether using our programme or any other well-researched and trialled tools readily available for schools, what matters most is that change is made and social and emotional learning, personal development and life skills teaching are implemented in primary schools.

“The 10 Minutes Matter campaign invites schools, families and the Government to invest 10 minutes a day to children’s mental wellbeing and see the immeasurable difference it makes over time. Given mental health costs England around £105 billion every year, it’s a small investment that has the potential to give lifelong returns.”