Children and Young People: Mental Health Promotion
Find information resources about mental health promotion for children and young people including key resources, books, and journal articles. This guide is for RCN members including nursing students, nursing support workers, and registered nurses.
Last updated:
21/09/2026
Key Resources
Clinical resources on RCN Learn
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).
-
House of Commons Library briefing on children and young people’s mental health policy.
View page
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).
Rees H, Reyburn L, Lenaghan M, Jones S (2024) Mental health support for young people: promoting choice, improving access. RCN Learn.
-
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.
View page
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2024) The role of paediatricians in children and young people’s mental health – position statement.
Soltan F et al. (2022) Community‐based interventions for improving mental health in refugee children and adolescents in high‐income countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
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.
-
This RCN Foundation funded scoping report was undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University.
View page
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
Bennett S et al. (eds.) (2022) Oxford guide to brief and low intensity interventions for children and young people. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Pavlopoulou G et al. (2024) Improving mental health therapies for autistic children and young people: promoting self-agency, curiosity and collaboration. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group.
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.
Price J, McAlinden O and Veal Z (eds.) (2024) Essentials of nursing children and young people. 2nd edn. London: Sage Publications.
Sharp H and Walker L (eds.) (2023) Participation in children and young people's mental health: an essential guide. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.
Trainor G and Heaslip V (2025) Needs of children and young people living with complex mental health difficulties: why it’s everyone’s business. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
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
-
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.
View page
NHS England and Health Education England: MindEd: e-learning to support healthy minds.
-
MindEd provides free open access online training in emotional and behavioural ‘first aid’ 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.
View page
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’s nursing – from the first children's hospitals to the development of family-centred care today.
View online exhibition
We Can Talk
-
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.
View page
This subject guide relates to:
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Joseph Dempster
Editor of this guide
RCN Library and Museum
Upcoming events relating to this subject guide
-
29 Sep 2026
Manchester
RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair - Manchester
Whether you’re 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 an RCNi Nursing Careers and Jobs Fair.
-
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.
-
10 Jun 2027
London
RCN Children and Young People's Conference 2027
Page last updated - 21/09/2026
