ABSTRACT
Mental health has been described as a state of overall well-being (World Health Organization, 2013). ‘Well-being’ is the term referred to in the majority of policy concerning practice within the early years since the publication of the Every Child Matters Green Paper (2003) and the succeeding Children Act (DfES, 2004). Although several different meanings of well-being have been established (Ereaut and Whiting, 2008) it is commonly based on ‘a holistic understanding of their needs and their psychological/emotional needs’ (Montgomery et al., 2003: 2) and is regularly used alongside the notion of personal, social and emotional development (PSED). Would you have thought that this topic really has relevance for the early years reflective practitioner working with young children? It is when you realise that one in ten children suffer from a mental health disorder!
