The growing number of children and young people experiencing mental health problems is one of our biggest concerns and a key strategic area for Mind. Although we look forward to a time where we no longer mention Covid as part of our day to day lives, we cannot ignore the damage it has done. In 2017, one in ten young people had a mental health problem – by 2020, this increased to one in six.
The Pixel Fund have generously supported our work for many years. Over the past few years in particular, you’ve helped us to take the steps from being an adult only charity to an all-age charity – developing services to support children and young people, whilst opening up our work to be inclusive to everyone who needs us.
You supported our Whole School Approach and stayed with us as we faced the challenges and adaptations of Covid. More recently you supported the first year of our Schools and Colleges Early Support Service (SCESS) – which we developed in partnership with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFC).
SCESS offers young people and trusted adults who play a pivotal role in a child’s life – school staff, parents and carers – free, immediate mental health support at a time when urgent support is limited. Experienced wellbeing practitioners provide care through 1:1 guided self-help sessions and webinars.
Evaluation from our first year of delivery shows that our interventions are successfully supporting young people to improve their mental health. We have high completion rates, meaning once young people start working with us, they remain engaged with the service. We are also proud that we’ve been able to ensure there are no waiting lists for our 1:1 offer with young people, parents and carers and school staff. This means we are a fast and responsive service, providing support where it is needed at the earliest opportunity.
From a 17-year-old YP: ‘I would like to thank you for all of your help, it thoroughly helped me in so many ways and I learnt so much. I will use this experience and the skills I have gathered for the rest of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
It means so much to us to receive further support from The Pixel Fund as we begin year 2 of this important programme. We know we can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people who are experiencing mental health problems, but we cannot do it alone. Thank you for continuing this journey together.