McDonald's happy meal

[LilyXoxox]

Thoughts on this?

I think it's a simple and impactful message really and gets people talking. Yes parents shouldn't be prompted by a McDonald's Happy Meal to have this conversation but then again it's doing well if it's starting that conversation 🤷‍♀️

Absolutely this 100%.

I agree that there's a time and place for it.

We rarely go to macdonalds. I wouldn't have known this was running but if we'd turned up I feel it would turn our rare treat out into a deep conversation which might end up feeling a bit bleak. My son can be anxious and emotional (awaiting ASD assessment) and I don't feel our trip to macdonalds should be made into a learning opportunity.

We have those conversations, they do all about this in school too.

I assume it still had a fun toy and to be fair they'd enjoy the sticker decoration.

Are you happy 100% of the time? Do you understand that sadness is a part of life too? Do you also understand that children are fed a diet of social media bullshit which implies that if you are not maniacally happy every single second of your life then there is something wrong with you?

FFS. Engage brain.

What's depressing is getting a knock at the door in the middle of the night, and 2 police officers telling you that your son has taken his own life!It's important that children know from an early age that it's ok not to be happy all the time, that everyone feels sad occasionally.We need to let children talk about their unhappy feelings, and talking about good mental health starts at a young age not when they're teens/older.And if this short message gets a child talking about their feelings then that's a good thing.

Irony being that highly processed food (like McDonalds) has an adverse effect on mental health of course...

https://zoe.com/learn/ultra-processed-foods-mental-health

I knew someone would have to wang on about UP Fucking F

No. Yes. Yes. And they are also fed a diet of virtue-signalling false pretence.

And when I'm not happy, or I'm sad, or clinically depressed (as happened in the past) it has very much been not okay and I've done what I could to get back to being happy. As have my resilient kids done. Without the weasel words of a multinational upf-conglomerate.

FFS. Think.

Really? Your mental health? Or you were inconvenienced slightly.

I think these are fine. Not going to change the world but might start a few worthwhile conversations with our children!

A kid isn't going to read the words it's ok not to be happy and start weeping into their fries.

Agree it's corporate virtue signalling, which they all do, but as to what the issue is, failing to see it.

It's a really good message (though maybe needs a bit more context for the age group a happy meal is aimed at)

So much human emotion is medicalised as mental health now. Nobody is ever anxious or sad, they always "have anxiety" or are "depressed". Normalising the full range of emotion is a good thing

So much human emotion is medicalised as mental health now. Nobody is ever anxious or sad, they always "have anxiety" or are "depressed".

THIS!!! 👏👏

That’s exactly the point.

For the kids that are too young; the parents will notice it. For the ones who are old enough to read and don’t need it, they’ll carry on as they were. For the ones who need to talk, it’ll start conversations.

I’ll acknowledge the couple of parents here who said they don’t those conversations started again; but also say that I wouldn’t want to be relying on schools to have a chat like this in a decent way, most won’t. And you may be already having them, but if this prompts more discussion, that’s a needed conversation.

Anything that potentially lowers suicide numbers is a good thing. Everyone else will ignore it anyway. It’s really important that children learn how to regulate their emotions in childhood. Just look at all the damage that has been done by kids growing up masking it all, and then having access to anything they could think of on the internet.

Yes this.

I am sorry that you are unable to appreciate the irony.

They could have added more though eg ‘talk to someone you trust about how you feel’

What's the average age of a kid that eats a Happy Meal? 6 years old? 7?

I'd argue the opposite. It's not okay that 6 and 7 year olds aren't happy all the time. Should be blissfully ignorant and stress-free without a care in the world at that age.

I'm with the "time and place" brigade.

Should be but often aren’t. How unrealistic to think that 6 and 7 year olds are or can be happy all the time.

Oh come on, that's funny.

I once heard a kid say "I don't WANT a Happy Meal! I want a fucking Angry Meal!"

They should print a few boxes Fucking Angry Meal, because everyone's feelings are valid.

I think the point is (and it says this on the box) it’s to encourage parents to start the conversation.

Looks like it's a nod to mental health awareness week

I think it's good if it sparks a conversation, even with children...they're certainly not happy all the time and I think it's good to discuss this, in an age appropriate way obviously

Winner for the most Ignorant comment of the thread!

Do you honestly think poor mental health is due to lack of resilience? Seriously?

It's because of people like you there is a need for awareness raising activities on reducing the stigma around mental ill health.

Oh I think that is utterly ridiculous
Sort of feels like lip service, but then also ridiculous to include it on a product aimed at 7 year olds with no context.

I'd definitely buy an 'I'm absolutely pissed off meal'.

As for anyone saying emotions are all now part of mental health - well yes. That's what mental health is. You don't go around saying FFS no one is allowed to have a headache anymore without it being put down to physical health.