To mark Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, Forces Children Scotland shone a spotlight on what “belonging” really means for children from Armed Forces families and why it matters more than ever. 

While most young people associate “my place” with a hometown or lifelong friendships, Forces children often define it differently. With frequent moves, school changes and long parental deployments, place becomes less about geography and more about feeling understood, supported and connected. 

Though these experiences can foster resilience and independence, they also bring emotional strain. Young people openly shared how deployment impacts their wellbeing, describing feeling anxious, low and even depressed when a parent is away. Research shows repeated separations can have a cumulative effect especially during adolescence, a time already filled with vulnerability. 

Despite living in communities across the UK, many Forces children say they feel misunderstood by professionals and struggle to access consistent mental health support. Long waits for services like CAMHS, combined with frequent relocations, can disrupt trusted relationships and force young people to repeatedly retell difficult experiences. 

The good news? When support is “Forces-aware,” the impact is powerful, with more than nine in 10 young people reporting improvements in wellbeing.  

With this year’s mental health week’s theme, This Is My Place, the message was clear: belonging doesn’t just happen, it is built. And by recognising and understanding the unique experiences of Forces children, communities can help them feel at home, wherever they are. 

Read the full ‘This is my place’ blog