Supporting Wellbeing in Early Years: Free Faith-Affirming Mental Health Resources for Mental Health Awareness Week

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May 2025), and this year's focus is to celebrate the power and importance of community.

At the heart of early years education is a connection between children, families, staff, and the wider community. We know that when families feel respected and supported, children thrive. That’s why we’re sharing a brilliant free resource that promotes mental wellbeing in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way.

Good Thinking, an NHS-approved digital mental health service for London, has created a series of faith-based wellbeing toolkits designed to help individuals and communities talk about mental health in a relevant and affirming way. These toolkits are freely available and can be a valuable addition to how we support families and staff across early years settings.

What’s Included?

The Good Thinking Campaign Hub offers downloadable toolkits tailored to different communities, including:

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism
• Rastafari
• Sikhi

Each toolkit contains:

• Posters
• Social media graphics
• Newsletter and website text
• Short animations

These materials are designed to be shared, helping to reduce stigma, encourage open conversations, and provide signposting to further support.

Why This Matters in Early Years

While these toolkits aren’t specifically written for early childhood, they can be incredibly useful in the context of early years education:

For families:

Many parents and carers may feel more comfortable accessing mental health support through trusted cultural or faith-based channels. These toolkits can be shared via newsletters, parent boards, or even WhatsApp groups, helping you show awareness and inclusivity.

For staff:

As a team, you might use the materials to open up conversations about your own wellbeing or explore how culture and faith influence your support for families.

For your wider community:

If your setting works with local faith groups or community leaders, these resources can help build bridges and strengthen your partnerships by using them in the following way:

• Print a few posters and put them where staff and parents will see them.
• Share the link in your next newsletter or on social media.
• Include a poster or link in your staffroom.
• Use in staff meetings to prompt discussion and reflection.
• Add to your parent welcome packs, especially for new families looking for reassurance and signposting.

“We’re always looking for ways to support the wellbeing of our families and staff. These toolkits are one small way we can show understanding, respect, and care for the communities we serve.”

Explore the Campaign Hub

Visit the Good Thinking Campaign Hub to browse and download the free toolkits. Everything is ready to use, and no sign-up is required. Let’s use this Mental Health Awareness Week to show families and staff that support is available and can be culturally relevant, accessible, and free.
We'd love to hear how you use these materials in your setting. Comment below, or if you share them online, tag us.