From Panic Attacks to Mental Health Plushies: How my daughter’s struggles inspired the creation of mental health plushies

Hi, I’m Fran Williams, a mum, wife, Head of People at a video game studio and also the founder of The Calmness Crew and Well Good.

Me at Burton and South Derbyshire college, where I am a patron.

A few years ago, coming out of lockdown, my daughter was so gripped by anxiety that she couldn’t leave the house, sit in the car, or go to school. It was heart breaking to watch, and like many parents, I felt completely lost. I’d find myself crying on many occasions feeling as though I’d failed as a parent, as I was completely helpless, unable to change how my daughter was feeling.

What I felt like every night, after the kids were in bed, feeling helpless and failing as a parent!

When a child breaks their leg, you go to hospital to fix the break. With mental health though, you can’t jump inside your child’s head to fix it!

This meant I had to start researching everything I could to implement ways to help my daughter. I learnt techniques like box breathing, grounding techniques, and positive affirmations, to help her manage the panic attacks she’d have throughout the day. We also researched many other areas that could potentially help and implemented many different things. Professor Steve Peters’ My Hidden Chimp book was another brilliant tool!

Meeting the wonderful Steve Peters at Derby University. Was very emotional shaking hands and meeting the author of a book that was one of the tools that connected with Faith.

We learnt so much and as certain things started working, over time, it made me want to share what we’d learnt with others as we felt we’d unlocked an inner power! I wanted to share the knowledge for free, so other families didn’t feel powerless like we once did.

Faith didn’t actually need to see a therapist, Dr or go on medication and I genuinely feel there must be so many children on long NHS mental health waiting lists, waiting for support, that could start actioning these techniques immediately and start noticing a difference, over time.

There are amazing organisations that can support children and families at this challenging time like Bridge the Gap in Derby, they have a wonderful space to help children manage their emotions and learn these techniques.

Bridge the Gap in Derby

This is the reason I created Well Good, www.wellgood.life a website offering inclusive, accessible mental health tools for young people.

After we got through this challenging time, one image stuck with me:
My daughter holding her plushie tightly while I talked her through how to calm down.

That’s when I thought…
What if the plushie could do the guiding itself?

Faith with her mental health plushie, the Koala!

And that’s how The Calmness Crew was born, a collection of voice-guided weighted plushies that gently guide children through the same calming techniques that helped us. Each plushie supports:

• Breathing technique

• Positive affirmations

• Grounding exercise

They’re designed to comfort and calm children through moments of anxiety, stress or worry, at home or on the go.

Mental Health Plushie comforting a young person

I was incredibly lucky to have the support of Kev Bayliss, legendary video game artist behind Donkey Kong Country and Yooka-Laylee, who brought each character to life. And I’m thrilled to share that the amazing Gyasi Sheppy, CBeebies presenter, author and actor, will be voicing our next character, the sloth.

Legendary video game artist Kev Bayliss

Voice of the sloth, Gyasi Sheppy, CBeebies presenter, author and actor.

We’ve also developed animations to teach these techniques visually, and I’m now working on a pitch to also turn my video game idea into reality. I have an idea for a free-to-play mobile game that uses fun, engaging gameplay to subtly teach children mental wellbeing strategies, inspired by games like Grow Your Garden and Toca Boca.

The Calmness Crew animations on YouTube www.youtube.com/@TheCalmnessCrew

This month, I was honoured to be chosen as one of Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday winners, and one of 36 businesses shortlisted for a free stand at Spring Fair 2026 at the NEC — one of the UK’s biggest retail shows.

Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Winner announcement

It’s been quite a journey, from my daughter’s panic attacks to the creation of mental health plushies and the creation of The Calmness Crew brand.

I was able to follow my dream as I managed to get 100 devices (that go inside the plushie) as part of my 40th birthday present and I raised £1200 on a Kickstarter to put the first order of 100 koala plushies in, which is the first Calmness Crew character.

Surrounded by my first batch of mental health plushies, the Koala

The costs of setting up a company in manufacturing is huge, with minimum order quantities, testing, trademarks, along with website costs, domain names, shipping and marketing, but knowing the mental health plushies are helping children and families, makes it all worth it.

Faith and I packing the first orders of The Calmness Crew plushies! Special moment!

I hope that by sharing our story, more families can find hope in these challenging times.

It has been a tough journey so far, with lots of learnings (still learning lots), highs and lows but the joy I feel when I hear the impact The Calmness Crew are having on young people, makes it all worthwhile.

I feel it is my purpose to share our story and try to help as many people as possible, by sharing what we learnt, from the most challenging time in our lives.

if anyone knows any retailers that would like to stock our mental health plushies or invest in The Calmness Crew to help take it to the next level, getting visibility and helping more children and families, please contact fran@wellgood.life

Save 50% on The Calmness Crew koala now!

My daughter Faith and I, after flying to Portugal!