Why mental wellbeing, health and safety must come first Grazia’s International Beauty Editor, Kaniz Ali in-conversation with Professor Fatima Zaman
Kaniz: When you talk about children’s wellbeing, you often bring health, safety, and mental wellbeing together. Why is that connection so important?
Fatima: Because in reality, they are never separate. Every day in my work, I see how deeply interconnected they are. A child’s sense of safety directly impacts their emotional wellbeing. When children feel secure, supported, and valued, they are far more open to learning, developing confidence, and building resilience. Their future isn’t shaped by academics alone, but by the strength of their emotional foundations and physical health.
Kaniz: What are the biggest pressures children are facing today?
Fatima: Children are growing up in a world that feels increasingly fast-paced and demanding. They are navigating school expectations, social dynamics, technology, and often a sense of uncertainty about the future. That is why mental wellbeing has to remain central in how we raise and support them. It cannot be an afterthought. Parents, schools, and communities all carry responsibility in creating environments where children feel emotionally safe, heard, and nurtured.
Kaniz: How much influence do parents have in shaping a child’s emotional and physical wellbeing?
Fatima: A huge amount. Children learn by watching the adults around them far more than by what they are told. Parents model daily behaviours — how to eat, how to sleep, how to manage stress, how to move through challenges. These routines might seem simple, but they regulate a child emotionally and physically. Consistency creates stability. And stability creates confidence.
Kaniz: You also speak a lot about safety. What does “feeling safe” really mean for a child?
Fatima: Safety is both physical and emotional. Children need to know how to stay safe at home, in school, online,
and in their wider communities. But just as importantly, they need to feel safe expressing themselves. When children are taught safety in a calm, non-fearful way, they become more empowered rather than anxious. Open communication is essential — a child who believes they can speak to a trusted adult without judgement is far more likely to ask for help when something feels wrong.
Kaniz: Resilience is a word that comes up often in your work. How do children actually build it?
Fatima: Resilience is not about avoiding difficulty — it’s about learning how to move through it. Children build it through experience: problem-solving, encouragement, supportive relationships, and being allowed to make mistakes. When adults respond with patience instead of criticism, children learn that setbacks are not failures, they are part of growth. That mindset becomes the foundation of confidence later in life.
Kaniz: You’ve highlighted the importance of supporting young girls specifically. Why is that focus necessary?
Fatima: In many communities, conversations around emotional health, physical development, and self-esteem are still delayed or avoided. Girls need age- appropriate guidance early on — about their changing bodies, personal care, relationships, and confidence. When they are given that knowledge, they are not only better informed, but more emotionally secure and self-assured. Empowerment starts with understanding.
Kaniz: Beyond family life, what role do schools and communities play?
Fatima: An essential one. Education does not end in the classroom. Home, school, and community must work together. Children need opportunities for sport, outdoor play, creativity, hobbies, and meaningful social connection. These experiences regulate emotions and support development in ways academic learning alone cannot. And we also need to be mindful of screen time — real-world connection is vital for emotional balance.
Kaniz: What makes a community truly supportive for children?
Fatima: A safe and inclusive one. Parks, youth centres, recreational spaces, and support networks all matter. They
give children a sense of belonging. And belonging is a powerful protective factor for mental health. When children feel they are part of something positive, they develop empathy, identity, and confidence.
Kaniz: If you had to summarise the bigger message of your work, what would it be? Fatima: That investing in children’s health, safety, and mental wellbeing is investing in the future of society. We are shaping the next generation — and our goal should be to raise children who are not only academically capable, but emotionally secure, physically healthy, socially connected, and resilient.
Kaniz: And what is the long-term hope you hold onto?
Fatima: That we raise a generation grounded in care, confidence, and compassion. Because when children are given that foundation, they don’t just thrive individually — they build stronger, healthier, and more hopeful communities for everyone.
