With close to 80,000 followers on social media, professional fashion stylist, designer and hairstylist Joey Bevan is well known in the fashion industry. Starting his humble beginnings at a YMCA charity shop in Southend, he has established himself as a force in the fashion industry with his work being featured on Britain’s Next Top Model,…
Toni, 25, is a LGBT Leader and Mental Health Champion at YMCA Bolton. Below she shares her experiences with depression and anxiety to mark Mental Health Awareness Week ( 8 -14 May). I was 19 years old when I was diagnosed with depression and later on also struggled with anxiety. I’d just moved out of…
Carlie is one of many young people who took on an apprenticeship. Below she tells us in her own words about her experience and why she thinks more young people should give apprenticeships a go….
Jason was homeless and living in a tent during winter, but your kind support helped him find somewhere safe to stay. Jason lost his job in a supermarket just before Christmas 2015 and, no longer able to afford the rent on his flatshare, he spent his last wage packet on a tent. For six freezing…
Beatrice, 13, is one of the young people that took part in our research report Somebody Like Me. Below she tells us about what she thinks about body confidence and her experience with body image anxiety in her own words. Sometimes I care about my looks, but not always. When I go to school I…
Nathan, 14, took part in a focus group for our new research report Somebody Like Me. Below he tells us why he thinks young people are increasingly worried about their looks, in his own words. With input from media and schools, there can be a lot of pressure to look a certain way or to…
Rianna was trapped in an abusive relationship for several years. Her boyfriend beat her so badly that she ended up in hospital more than once. Then one day, when she was just 17 years old, Rianna summoned up all her courage and walked out the door. She didn’t have anywhere to go. But she was…
Dexter, 17, London Dexter, a young transgender man, has struggled with mental health difficulties since he was 10-years-old. It was hard for his family to accept and, struggling to cope with his mental health difficulties on his own, Dexter self-harmed. At 15-years-old, he moved to London where his dad managed to get him help…
Louis, 19, south east England Both Louis parents were alcohol dependent, making his childhood a difficult one. When he was 13 years-old he started self-harming and didn’t tell anyone about his struggles out of fear people would think about him differently. Below he tells #IAMWHOLE in his own words about his experiences with mental health difficulties…
Charlie, 22, south west England Charlie was in his last year at university when the stress of studying for his undergraduate degree became too much for him to handle. Trying at first to get on with things, Charlie realised quickly that he needed help. After opening up to his parents about his mental health…
