1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem and the stigma and discrimination that goes with it can often make life even harder.
Stigma stops young people seeking help; it stops them living normal lives, and sometimes makes them give up on their hopes and dreams.
We want to change this for the better. Through our Young People’s Programme, we aimed to increase awareness and understanding around mental health problems, reducing the negative impact of stigma and discrimination and improving young people’s confidence so they can talk more openly about mental health.
How we did this
Over the course of a pilot scheme, we supported nine schools across Wales to embrace a whole-school approach to mental health. With their help, we created informative and useful resources which are freely available to help schools across Wales start their own conversations about mental health.
Our Young People's Champions – young people aged 18-30 with lived experience of mental health – went into schools, colleges and youth organisations to share their stories and help break down stigma. If you’d like to get involved with the campaign, you can still sign up to become a Champion.
In November 2017 we launched the #WeCanWeWill campaign - a movement of people changing the way people think and talk about young people's mental health. Head to our young people's pages to find videos of young champions talking about their experiences, resources to help start conversations about mental health, and show your support by joining the #WeCanWeWill movement.
“Negative experiences gain the full weight of your attention; positive experiences get forgotten or dismissed. It’s like having a pet Dementor following you around and getting in the way of everything you do.”
Where can I find more information about mental health?
Find out more about what mental health is and how to talk about it. If you’re experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can get help, including dedicated options for young people.