Youth Mental Health
Youth Mental Health Awareness Day is the 19th of September, a day to focus on better mental health for young students.
It is time for change for many young people, including starting at new schools, colleges and universities.
The theme for this Youth Mental Health Day on the 19th of September is #BeBrave - become the best version of yourself and #BeBrave in times of change.
Top tips to #BeBrave this Youth Mental Health Day:
Tip 1: Give yourself time to settle.
Change often feels uncomfortable. This doesn't mean that it's wrong, it's just new. Accept that it might feel uneasy for a while, and give yourself time to settle in.
Tip 2: Practise self-encouragement.
Practice saying phrases like 'I can do this' or ‘I will get there’ to yourself. This can help you to keep positive and remain confident during changing situations.
Tip 3: Connect with the people around you.
Talk to those around you about how you feel. They may well be going through what you're experiencing too.
Worried about student anxiety? Follow Enigma Wellness on socials to keep informed on our upcoming Anxiety Workshop for Teens.
Helping Our Teens This Youth Mental Health Day
Marie Gentles, a leading behaviour expert shares her top school support tips for students and parents in this new school year.
- For parents; all behaviour is a form of communication. Get curious and explore why they are behaving in a certain way.
- Set attainable goals. Have small goals initially, nothing too big or overwhelming, and then every step of progress is a step in the right direction, and remember my saying: “There is no such thing as perfection, only progression.”
- For students; get into a routine from the beginning of the school year, eat well, sleep well and then do 20 to 30 minutes of revision per day. That then feels manageable and when it comes to exam time, you just continue to do what you've always done, significantly reducing overwhelm and stress.
- For attendance issues, work with the school to understand why they do not want to attend. What is the behaviour communicating? Is it anxiety, worry, fear, or inability to access the curriculum? Then once the need has been identified you can support them to meet the need.
Are you interested to hear more from Marie Gentles this Youth Mental Health Day? Watch Helping Our Teens on BBC iPlayer.
Stem4 is a charity that supports positive mental health in teenagers and they are the Founders of Youth Mental Health Day.
For more tips and resources on teen mental health, visit Stem4 at https://stem4.org.uk/
Fighting for young people’s mental health, YoungMinds has a free Shout Textline which offers young people 24-hour mental health support.
Find out more here: Shout Textline
YoungMinds also have a Parent Helpline:
You can call our Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544, Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:00pm.
Student Minds empowers students and members of the university community to look after their own mental health, support others and create change.
Visit their Student Minds Hub for your online university mental health community:
Are you interested in learning more about a range of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and eating disorders? Read Your Mental Health to hear from the experts in mental health and read about lived experiences.
