The Power of Storytelling: Launching the WHISKids Literature Initiative
At WHIS Kids, our mission is to promote mental health and wellbeing for children and young people worldwide. We recognize that the challenges facing our youth today are profound; rates of anxiety and emotional distress among children are at historic highs, creating an urgent need for proactive, accessible support systems.
We believe that prevention and early intervention core tenets of our global health strategy must extend to the emotional landscape of our children. This is why we are thrilled to announce that we are now integrating the power of books into our programmes. Literature is a unique gateway for children to process complex emotions in a safe, relatable environment.
We are proud to start this journey with Ria: The Anxious Hermit Crab by Christopher Proudfoot. Through Ria’s story, children are invited to explore the concept of “bottling up” emotions and learn the healing power of friendship and vulnerability - order today.
This is only the beginning of our literary journey. We are actively seeking to build a library of resources that can transform the way children understand their own wellbeing.
“Storytelling is a powerful, accessible gateway for early intervention in children’s mental health, providing a safe space to process complex emotions and build resilience. As CEO of both the World Health Innovation Summit and the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, I am proud to support the WHISKids Literature Initiative, recognizing that books like Ria: The Anxious Hermit Crab are essential tools for fostering emotional honesty and social connection in the next generation.”
— Gareth Presch, Founder & CEO of WHIS and CEO of GSPA
Calling All Publishers, Distributors, and Authors:
We are looking for partners who share our commitment to children’s mental health. If you have stories that inspire resilience, understanding, or emotional growth, we want to hear from you.
Please reach out to us at info@whis.world to discuss how we can collaborate.