Children and Young People: Mental Health Promotion
Use this guide to find information resources about mental health promotion for children and young people including books, reports and journal articles.
Last updated:
08/01/2026
Key Resources
Rees H, Reyburn L, Lenaghan M, Jones S (2024) Mental health support for young people: promoting choice, improving access. RCN Learn.
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This RCN Mental Health Forum factsheet was undertaken in collaboration with Mind. The purpose of this resource is to help nurses understand and promote choice in how children and young people can access mental health services.
Children’s Commissioner for England (2023) The state of Children’s mental health services 2021-2022. London: CCfE.
Centre for Mental health (2023) Children and young people’s mental health: the facts. London: CfMH.
Children and Young People's Mental Health Coalition (2023) Children and young people’s mental health: an independent review into policy success and challenges over the last decade. Local Government Association.
House of Commons Library (2024) Support for children and young people's mental health (England) (research briefing).
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House of Commons Library briefing on children and young people鈥檚 mental health policy.
National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) (2023) The Inbetweeners: A review of the barriers and facilitators in the process of the transition of children and young people with complex chronic health conditions into adult services. London: Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP).
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2020) State of child health: mental health Updated 2021). London: RCPCH.
Clinical resources on RCN Learn
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2020) Role of paediatricians in supporting children and young people's mental health - position statement. London: RCPCH.
Soltan F et al. (2022) Community鈥恇ased interventions for improving mental health in refugee children and adolescents in high鈥恑ncome countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Trainer G (no date) Understanding and responding to children and young people’s mental health challenges. London: RCN.
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This RCN publication has been created to assist those nurses who are not mental health specialists, who work with children and young people in a community, hospital, school, and other setting.
View page
Turner J, Cooper L, Woodward A, Painter J, Day P (no date) Nursing-led interventions to support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of children and young people: a scoping review. RCN Foundation and Sheffield Hallam University.
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This RCN Foundation funded scoping report was undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University.
Welsh Parliament Children, Young People and Education Committee (2020) Mind over matter: two years on. Cardiff: Welsh Parliament.
We would like to thank the RCN CYP: Preventative Health, Advocacy and Welfare member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.
Books
Baldwin L (ed.) (2019) Nursing skills for children and young people’s mental health. Cham: Springer. 
Coverdale G and Donovan H (2019) With children in mind: current research and policy developments on mental health and young people. Bradford: Emerald. 
Howard C, Burton M and Levermore D (2020) Children’s mental health and emotional well-being in primary schools: a whole school approach. 2nd ed. London: Learning Matters. 
Laver-Bradbury C, Thompson M J, Gale C and Hooper C (eds.) (2021) Child and adolescent mental health: theory and practice. 3rd edn. London; Routledge. 
Nabors L (ed.) (2022) Resilient children: nurturing positivity and well-being across development. Cham: Springer International. 
Sharp H and Walker L (eds.) (2023) Participation in children and young people's mental health: an essential guide. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group. 
Theodosiou L, Knightsmith P, Lavis P and Bailey S (2020) Children and young people's mental health : early intervention, ongoing support and flexible evidence-based care. Shoreham by Sea: Pavillion. 
Walker S (2019) Supporting troubled young people: a practical guide to helping with mental health problems. St Albans: Critical Publishing. 
Yearwood E L, Pearson G S and Newland J A (2021) Child and adolescent behavioral health: a resource for advanced practice psychiatric and primary care practitioners in nursing. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons. Book subject searches
Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on the topic.
Journal articles
Use these links for details of journal articles on each topic.
Journals
Journals of interest for children and young people mental health promotion. Use these links to see details of availability. Explore
Books on Prescription
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A reading list of expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. The books have all been recommended by young people and health professionals, and are available to borrow for free from public libraries.
NHS England and Health Education England: MindEd: e-learning to support healthy minds.
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MindEd provides free open access online training in emotional and behavioural 鈥榝irst aid鈥� and essential therapeutic skills for all those involved in the mental wellbeing and care of children and young people in the UK. MindEd is developed and supported by a group of multi-disciplinary organisations including the RCN.
RCN Exhibition: Once Upon a Time... a history of children and young people's nursing exhibition. -
This exhibition explores the history of children and young people鈥檚 nursing 鈥� from the first children's hospitals to the development of family-centred care today.
View online exhibition
We Can Talk
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This co-produced resource is intended to improve the experience of children and young people who attend hospital due to their mental health. It is relevant to anyone who works in an acute hospital.
This subject guide relates to:
Joseph Dempster
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Museum
Upcoming events relating to this subject guide
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04 Sep 2026
London
RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair - London 2026
Whether you鈥檙e a nurse, healthcare assistant, newly qualified nurse or nursing student, explore new career opportunities, meet healthcare employers, get expert career guidance and attend free CPD seminars at 桃色视频i Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair.
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09 Nov 2026 - 10 Nov 2026
Birmingham
Nursing Live
Join Nursing Live for two days of CPD, inspiring keynote speakers, practical workshops and wellbeing support. Discover 150+ expert-led sessions, connect with peers and explore the latest developments in professional nursing.
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10 Jun 2027
London
RCN Children and Young People's Conference 2027
Page last updated - 08/01/2026
