War Child UK is aiming to publicise the devastating impact that conflict can have on mental health

A new film has highlighted the devastating effects of war on childhood mental health and wellbeing.

War Child is aiming to publicise the long-term impact that conflict can have on younger people.

The film follows a small robot struggling to fit into everyday life; failing to bond with its mother, being withdrawn and struggling to make friends at school, having problems with studying and suffering from flashbacks of traumatic memories in a war zone.

The story concludes as a button on the robot’s suit is pushed, causing the metal armour to fall away and revealing a child inside the robot suit. The child had been wearing her traumatic experiences of surviving a conflict zone like armour, to help her close off from the outside world.

Rob Williams, chief executive of the charity said: “War Child is working to change the conversation around mental health for children living with the realities of war. We’ve seen a sea change in the perception of mental health in the UK, which is fantastic and it’s important to take these issues as seriously for children dealing with the real consequences of living through conflict.

“Without this support children risk developing psychological and emotional problems later in life, severely limiting their ability, and that of their families and communities, to rebuild their lives once the conflict has ended.”

War Child is asking viewers to share the video, along with the hashtag #EscapeRobot