Halton students have become ‘mental health champions’ for their schools, supporting their fellow pupils and raising awareness of emotional well being.
The pioneering new Halton Borough Council programme implemented by Young Addaction comes amid warnings of a national mental health crisis in schools.
Twenty young people aged 14 and 15 took part in mental health first aid training, and are now spreading the word in six schools across Halton.
“It’s the beginning of a new approach to recognising issues within the topic of mental health and effectively helping people around us,” said champion Leah Priestly-Black.
The young champions will raise the profile of emotional health and resilience in schools, as well as providing peer support and signposting to professional help and local services.
“After completing the Mental Health Champions course, I feel so much more confident in being able to guide someone onto the right path into getting help and overcoming the stigma that surrounds mental health. With everyone’s work and help after the course now, I believe we can help spread awareness and let people know that telling someone is nothing to be afraid of,” said champion Holly Caldwell.
“I personally really enjoyed the training. I found it really informative, and it really helped everyone to open up,” said Callum Purchase, of Runcorn.
The scheme came following the annual UK-wide “Make your Mark” survey, which revealed that 400 young people across the borough said mental health was their most important issue.
It’s an initiative of the Halton Youth Cabinet, which is run by Young Addaction Halton on behalf of Halton’s Children’s Trust and Halton Borough Council.
Halton Youth Cabinet member Matthew Walker said: “I’m hoping that this project will make a real difference to young people’s mental health, as it’s a crucial issue. I’m thrilled to see how schools have got behind the champions scheme.”
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Children, Young People and Families, Cllr Tom McInerney, said: “All credit to the young people for addressing this need among their peers.”
The young champions also have the opportunity to meet and influence senior decision makers from mental health support organisations across the borough and beyond. They recently met with the borough’s commissioners and heads of health services.
Funding for the initial training was provided by the The Community Foundation for Merseyside’s Alfred Shaw Trust Fund.
The project is organised by Young Addaction on behalf of Halton’s Children’s Trust and Halton Borough Council as part of an on-going commitment to improve opportunities for all children and young people living in the borough.
If you’re struggling, don’t suffer in silence – help is available. If you want to take the first step, Addaction has a free and confidential webchat service (www.addaction.org.uk)