The ability of a child to express their emotions is recognised as an increasingly important factor in their mental wellbeing.
Schoolchildren in Bootle, Liverpool, have shown how an Everton in the Community programme is encouraging them to communicate more openly with their friends.
A Year 6 class at Linacre County Primary School took part in a game of Emoji Bingo, where they had to identify emotions they had experienced in the last week and draw them on a card.
"It's really good," said 11-year-old Bethany. "This is our third year of doing it and we trust the people who come in and help us. Everything they do is based on helping us."
The game is a part of the Tackling the Blues project, working with local schools and young carer groups in Merseyside's most disadvantaged areas, using sport and education to help children aged six to 16-years-old with, or at risk of, mental health issues.
Mentoring and physical activities are some of the other tools used within Tackling the Blues to increase self-esteem and reduce anxiety in children.
Delivered by Everton in the Community and Edge Hill University the project has engaged 300 young people since 2015, winning the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community award at the Times Higher Education Awards in November.
Leighton Baines accompanied BBC Match of the Day cameras at Linacre County to see how it helps the kids there.
"A lot of kids will feel different types of mental illness but it will be probably further down the line when it truly presents itself," the Everton defender said. "If we can identify it and address it early, then we are less likely to hit the bigger problem later on."
See: Tackling The Blues