"Please Look After Yourself": The Duchess' Children's Mental Health Week Message

To mark the beginning of this year's Children's Mental Health Week, the Duchess of Cambridge recorded a video message outdoors at Anmer Hall. "This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is all about expressing yourself -- about finding creative ways in which to share your thoughts, ideas and feelings. So whether that’s through photography, through art, through drama, through music or poetry -- it’s finding those things that makes you feel good about yourself. And while this is Children’s Mental Health Week there has never been a more important time to talk about parental wellbeing and mental health too. Last year you told me just how important this was that many of us find it hard to prioritise. This is a hugely challenging time for us all so please look after yourself too. Find those ways in which to share your thoughts and your feelings or find someone to talk to because we really do need to be the very best versions of ourselves for the children in our care."

Hello! reports:

'The Duchess of Cambridge has encouraged parents to find things to make them feel good about themselves as she enjoyed a jog in the grounds of her Norfolk home in a candid video. In the selfie-style message, Kate, 39, highlighted the crucial need for parents and carers to look after their own mental wellbeing.'

This year's Children's Mental Health Week runs from February 1-7. The theme is very much focused on creativity, as referenced in Kate's message. 'Express Yourself' is centred on the ways children and adults can unwind together through art, poetry, dance, photography or film.

Place2Be notes:

'Last year, Her Royal Highness launched her landmark survey on the Early Years, ‘5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives’, which aimed to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come. The research revealed that whilst 90% of people acknowledge that maintaining parental mental health is crucial to support the health and happiness of their child, in practice the majority of parents struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing. '

To mark Children's Mental Health Week in 2019, the Duchess memorably visited two primary schools in London to find out more about the support offered to students, teachers and parents to help with mental wellbeing. The Duchess wore a grass green Eponine London dress for the outing with her L.K. Bennett Marissa boots and Kiki McDonough Lauren earrings.

The Duchess was asked to bring something that made her feel good. The Mail Online reports Kate told the youngsters: "I’ve got something. It’s not very big. Do you want to see it? This is a photograph of my family. These are my children and this is my husband. And my family makes me feel happy. And we like playing outside together and spending lots of time together as a family. And that makes me feel very happy."

This year, the Duchess was casual in her Barbour Longshore jacket.

The £159 piece in navy/marigold is described as, "The ultimate utility jacket, this piece from Barbour is designed with a funnel collar to keep out the chill, exposed zip front fastening and doubled-up pockets on either breast panel."

Kate wearing the jacket in Northern Ireland last February.

Kate's pom pom beanie has not yet been identified, I expect it's a past season piece. If searching for an alternative there are some excellent options available at Etsy.