Understanding the whole child

Children’s mental health cannot be separated from the broader contexts of their lives. There are many interacting influences that impact infant and child mental health, including children’s relationships with their parents and their immediate family environment.

We’ve created a series of videos that seek to highlight a holistic view of children’s social and emotional wellbeing. The first two are aimed at practitioners, while the final video may be a useful tool for your work with parents and families.

This video (2 minutes, 12 seconds) explains the concept of the ‘whole child’.

Are you curious about what social and emotional wellbeing means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children? We worked with communities across Australia to create this video (3 minutes, 25 seconds), which offers a glimpse into the deep connections Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture, spirituality, family and community.

Please note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this resource may contain images, audio or names of people who have passed away.

Created for families, this video (2 minutes, 5 seconds) explores key concepts about children’s mental health, with a focus on how it is influenced by their relationships and the world around them. You might like to share this video, or our Understanding and supporting children’s mental health page, with a parent or family you are working with.