Children’s emotional wellbeing must be central to JIA care24 July 2026 In the wake of JIA Awareness Week, a new child health report reinforces our message: children and young people with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis need support for the whole impact of the condition — physical, emotional and social. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s State of Child Health 2026 report paints a stark picture of children’s health, warning that outcomes have worsened or stalled across almost all key indicators and that children in more deprived communities are being hit hardest across the UK. For JIA-at-NRAS, a patient-led charity supporting children, young people and families affected by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, the report’s child and young person-led focus on emotional health and wellbeing is especially important. It echoes what families tell us every day: JIA is not “just joint pain”. It can affect children’s confidence, friendships, school life, family routines, independence and mental wellbeing. During JIA Awareness Week 2026, we shone a light on the emotional realities of living with and supporting someone with JIA by sharing lived experiences from across our community. These stories help challenge misconceptions, raise understanding and show why timely diagnosis, informed support and joined-up care matter. The RCPCH report calls for earlier, more inclusive emotional health and wellbeing support in the everyday places where children and young people spend their time — including schools, communities, health services and youth settings. For young people with long-term conditions like JIA, this approach is vital. Emotional wellbeing support should not begin only at crisis point; it should be part of everyday care and understanding. JIA can be unpredictable and invisible. A child may look well but be managing pain, fatigue, stiffness, appointments, medication side effects or worries about being different from their peers. Schools, healthcare professionals, families and communities all have a role in recognising those pressures and creating environments where children with JIA feel believed, included and supported. JIA-at-NRAS is calling for: Greater awareness that children and young people can get arthritis. Earlier recognition of symptoms and faster referral to specialist care, helping reduce the risk of long-term harm. Whole-child support that considers the emotional, social and educational impact of living with JIA. Better understanding in schools and communities so children with JIA are supported to participate, learn and thrive. More opportunities for children, young people and families with lived experience to shape services, policy and public awareness. As a patient-led charity we believe that the voices of children, young people and families must be at the heart of decisions about care and support. The State of Child Health 2026 report strengthens that message by showing the importance of listening to young people directly and acting on what they say they need. “JIA Awareness Week is about helping more people understand the real impact of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The RCPCH report makes clear that children’s emotional health and wellbeing cannot be treated as separate from their physical health. For children and young people with JIA, being listened to, believed and supported can make a profound difference.” Whilst our JIA Awareness Week has finished, this does not mean that our focus on raising awareness stops. We encourage supporters, schools, healthcare teams and communities to learn more about JIA, share lived experiences, challenge myths and help ensure every child with JIA feels seen, safe and supported.