YMCA England has been awarded a cash injection of £257,220 from the Department for Education to fund a new national project set up to tackle mental health issues in young people.
Mental Health Champions will encompass three YMCAs spread across the country (East Surrey, Worcestershire and Norfolk) and work to increase awareness and destigmatise mental health problems amongst 11 to 21 year olds.
Initially running for a year, the project will operate a peer to peer approach to encourage young people to start discussing and sharing the issues which they are concerned about, and offer a low level counselling service to ease current pressure on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The young champions will be able to provide support, mentoring and buddying to help guide their peers through what can be a frightening or isolating process. In addition, YMCA will work with key adults, such as teachers and youth workers, to build their confidence in talking about mental health to young people.
Denise Hatton, chief executive at YMCA England, said: “Over the past year, in the lead up to the General Election, we have been working with young people across the country to identify their biggest issues and concerns. Time after time, mental health was raised as one of the most pressing issues, which is understandable when you realise that it impacts on every aspect of a young person’s life – from education, to employment and relationships. We are really excited about this new funding and the opportunity to empower more young people to provide support to their peers.”
To pledge your support for the YMCA manifesto, and call for better support for young people on issues including mental health provision, visit our Manifesto page and click ‘I Believe’.