With Children’s Day fast approaching (Nov 20th), a topic often coming up in discussion is Children’s Mental Health. After the effects of the Pandemic, with an estimated 1 in 6 children between the ages of five to fifteen being identified with possible mental health problems in July 2020, understanding children’s mental health is now more important than ever. One of the organisations championing this cause is a charity called YoungMinds.

 

The charity was founded in 1993 by children’s mental health professionals to create a future in which the mental health of all young people is valued and protected. Their goal is to make a world where people can access help when needed quickly and unashamedly.

 

Whether it be through their ambassadors like popular YouTuber Dan Howell or actor Ella Purnell, fundraising events like their #HelloYellow campaign where schools and offices all over the UK wore yellow to raise money or posting the stories of real people to supply insight or hope to those who need it. This year, YoungMinds are focusing on the strategy “You Matter”, which zeroes in on the problems with the current availability of help for young people and create safe spaces for them to talk and receive the help that they may have not had access to beforehand. Ash Harker - a 16-year-old student said, “YoungMinds reassured me that I’m never alone when it comes to mental health. I found the resources on their website insightful and comforting.”