Only a quarter of school-aged children in the UK (aged 4–18) are optimistic about the future, according to their parents, a new poll by SOS Children’s Villages UK and YouGov shows.

Children’s mental health is shaped by the world around them, and for too many children today, that world is marked by fear, loss and uncertainty. Across the world, in places such as Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza and beyond, global crises are forcing children to grow up far too fast.

War, natural disasters and the impacts of climate change are not only disrupting education and family life but taking away something fundamental: the chance to feel safe and supported, and to simply be a child.

Protecting children’s mental health means more than just responding to trauma. It means creating stability, restoring routines, and giving children space to play, learn, express themselves, and to rebuild a sense of normality. Childhood should not be defined by survival alone.

How we’re helping protect children’s mental health

At SOS Children’s Villages, mental health care is central to our work with children and families affected by crisis. By strengthening families, providing psychosocial support, and creating safe, nurturing environments, we help children begin to heal and, ultimately, reclaim their childhoods.

When we invest in children’s mental wellbeing, we are not only responding to today’s emergencies. We are laying the foundations for healthier, more resilient futures.

Children deserve more than to cope. They deserve the chance to grow, to hope, and to thrive. Learn more about how we’re supporting children and families in over 130 countries and territories.