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mental health awareness week

Mental Health Awareness Week

 1024 683 Hannah Myers
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This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the importance of emotional wellbeing for seriously ill children and their families at Spread a Smile.

At Spread a Smile, supporting the emotional wellbeing of seriously ill children and their families is at the heart of everything we do. Alongside the medical treatment children are receiving, we believe emotional support, connection and moments of joy are just as important during some of the most challenging times families can face.

Serious illness can turn worlds upside down. Long hospital stays, intensive treatment and time away from home place enormous pressure on the wellbeing and mental health of children, young people and their families. Families are often separated from loved ones, daily routines and the experiences that make up a typical childhood, leading to feelings of isolation, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion.

Through our family-centred approach, Spread a Smile provides support during treatment and recovery. From in-person hospital visits that bring laughter, creativity and connection, to family events and outings that create precious shared memories, and virtual entertainer sessions that offer comfort wherever families are, we remain committed to being there whenever we are needed most.

The impact of this work is reflected in our latest impact report, with 100% of healthcare professionals saying Spread a Smile visits have a positive impact on patients’ mental health and wellbeing.*

Our 2026 Parent, Carer and Patient Survey also highlighted the difference these visits make:**

  • 100% of children and young people said a visit made them feel happy
  • 99% said our entertainer visits made their time in hospital better
  • 98% said the visit improved their child’s hospital experience
  • 100% said Spread a Smile brought joy to their child
  • 90% of parents and carers felt supported during visits
  • 93% said visits helped ease stress

Laura Walter, Director of Services at Spread a Smile, said, “At Spread a Smile, we see first-hand the emotional impact serious illness has on children, young people and their families. It can be isolating, exhausting and overwhelming as families adjust to a new way of living.

“Our family-centred approach supports wellbeing through in-person hospital visits bringing joy and connection, family events and outings creating time together as a family, and virtual sessions so families can access support wherever they are. We remain committed to supporting emotional wellbeing alongside medical care.”

One parent shared, “Spread a Smile is an amazing charity. Brightening up multiple hospital admissions we have had and also at home. Spread a Smile really does pick you up when you’re feeling the world is against you.”

Another said, “Spread a Smile has made such an incredible difference in my son’s life. When they arrive in hospital, everything changes — his face lights up with pure joy. For a while, the pain and worry fade away.”

Mila added, “Spread a Smile take a bleak day and fill it with so much colour… it has almost completely replaced the bleakness.”

Just £30 could help fund an entertainer visit to a seriously ill child at their hospital bedside.

Donate Now

* Collated from the Spread a Smile Healthcare Professional Survey 2024 

** Collated from the Spread a Smile Parent/Carer/Patient Survey 2026 

Chloe and Therapy Dog

Mental Health Awareness Week

 780 400 Susie
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Today is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, a very important week which aims to educate and raise awareness around mental health.

For the families we support, the pressures of serious illness can be hugely and negatively impactful on mental health. Spread a Smile aims to support our families and their wellbeing, providing positive and happy moments of distraction and helping to reduce stress and feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Our team of entertainers include musicians, magicians, poets, therapy dogs, artists, fairies and more. Each bring their own unique talents and abilities to their work, creating special moments of joy, fun and engagement which enable our families to escape – even if it’s just for a moment – from their day-to-day realities. A visit from one of our team to a child at their hospital bedside can make such a difference to how they feel and manage their hospital experience.

“I have seen the Spread a Smile team interact with my child when he was so ill that he list all interest in play, but they managed to re-engage the magic.” Parent

“Having a singer sing nursery rhymes at her bedside filled us with joy, as it just felt like some normality amongst all of the chaos and heartache.” Parent

Our Therapy Dogs provide a physical comfort and warmth to the patients they meet. Patients enjoy brushing their fur, stroking them, sitting quietly with them and feeding them treats.

“It was during our daily visits to UCLH that we met Spread a Smile. The team were visiting with Buddy, one of their Therapy Dogs. Kaiden was in recovery from general anaesthetic and wasn’t particularly bothered about seeing anyone. However, within a couple of minutes of meeting Buddy, he was sitting up in bed, stroking and playing with Buddy and giving him treats. Kaiden’s recovery from anaesthetic was super quick that day! He just wanted to get up and absolutely loved being with Buddy. It was wonderful for me to see Kaiden happy and enjoying something different. When you spend so long in hospital, anything that breaks the monotony is a treat.” Parent

As part of #mentalhealthawarenessweek we are extremely grateful to our friends at Opticore for sponsoring our Therapy Dog visits to University College London Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Art is important in every child’s development. It encourages children to express their creativity, develop motor skills and heightens their ability to communicate and problem solve. For children in hospital, our art related projects and activities also provide a welcome distraction from treatment and the hospital environment.

“I have seen children express their feelings, fear and hopes through art in a wat they never could with words. Watching these young people, many of whom are going through the toughest times, utterly distracted from their treatment and hospital environment is a joy.” Marina Constantinou, Spread a Smile Head of Art.

We couldn’t do what we do without the generous support of our donors, fundraisers, volunteers and partners. Thank you for all your support and please take a look here for how you enable us to make a difference for incredible children like Chloe and their families.