This timely collection explores how children display social competence in talking about their mental health and wellbeing. The authors analyse recorded conversations of young people's interactions with professionals in which they disclose particular mental health concerns and their ways of coping, drawing on insights from ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and discursive psychology. Across a diverse range of institutional and international settings, chapters examine how children and young people employ interactional strategies to demonstrate their competence. The research reveals how young people resist or protect claims that they lack competence, especially in contexts where they might be seen as seeking or asking for support, or when their (dis)abilities and mental health is explicitly up for discussion.

Each chapter concludes with a reflection on the methodological, professional and practical implications of the findings, highlighting areas where future research is necessary and addressing the empirical findings from the authors professional vision, facilitating innovative dialogue between conversation analytic research and professional vision. This book will be of great value to academics and professionals interested in how children express themselves, particularly in relation to their mental wellbeing.

This book brings together a collection of timely contributions exploring how children display social competence in talking about their mental health and wellbeing. The authors present recorded conversations of young people's interactions with professionals in which they disclose particular mental health concerns and their ways of coping. Across a diverse range of institutional and international settings, chapters explore how children and young people employ interactional strategies to demonstrate their competence. The research reveals how young people resist or protect claims that they lack competence, especially in contexts where they might be seen as seeking or asking for support, or when their (dis)abilities and mental health is explicitly up for discussion. The analyses of the recorded conversations draw on insights from ethnomethodology, conversation analysis and discursive psychology.

Each chapter conclude with a reflection on the methodological, professional and practical implications of this research, highlighting areas where future research is necessary and addressing the empirical findings from the authors professional vision, facilitating innovative dialogue between conversation analytic research and professional vision. This collection will be of great value to academics and professionals interested in how children express themselves, particularly in relation to their mental wellbeing.

Joyce Lamerichs is Assistant Professor at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Susan Danby is Professor of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education at Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Amanda Bateman is Senior Lecturer at Swansea University, UK.

Stuart Ekberg is Senior Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology, Australia. 

"This collection stands out from the previous studies ? . Overall, the volume is logically well-knit and informatively well-written with a 'research plus practice plus reflection' pattern, which may contribute to the cooperation between researchers and professionals. ... valuable sources and references for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, undergraduates and graduate students ? . In summary, this collection is strongly recommended to be added into the must-read list of child studies." (Wei Zhao, Discourse Studies, Vol. 23 (5), 2021)

"Children and Mental Health Talk is an interesting read, even if the reader is not very familiar with conversation analysis. It takes some time to get used to the transcription of the recorded conversations, but the analysis of the conversations is fascinating to read." (Hennie Weiss, Metapsychology Online Reviews, metapsychology.net, Vol. 24 (36), 2020)

"A valuable addition to literature with a focus on mental health in childhood. ? this book a must-have for academics as well as students in the field of childhood studies and wellbeing." (Wendy Sims-Schouten, International Journal of Emotional Education, Vol. 12 (1), 2020)