Today is Teen Mental Health Wellness day – a day recognised worldwide as an opportunity to encourage conversations about mental illness.
Many people are unaware of the prevalence of mental health disorders among teens and adolescents and sometimes the stigma associated with disorders like depression and anxiety can discourage young people from asking for help. Teen Mental Health Wellness day in March encourages open conversation and raises awareness about mental health challenges amongst teens all across the globe.
Research by the Prince’s Trust, published last year, found that (23%) of young people asked in the UK agree they will never recover from the emotional impact of the Covid pandemic. The report reveals the happiness and confidence of 16 to 25 year olds has hit the lowest point in its thirteen-year history.
More than a third (36%) reveal that the pandemic has caused a long-term negative impact on their stress levels. Also, almost half (48%) report experiencing a mental health problem, 46% say the pandemic has made their mental health worse, and 44% agree they are more anxious now.
Additionally, overall, wellbeing and confidence in young people out of work, education or from poorer backgrounds was found to be consistently worse throughout the report. For those not in employment, education or training (NEET) or from poorer backgrounds, a quarter of young people (23 and 26%) report that they always feel anxious compared to 15% of peers in work or education and 16% of young people overall.
Now, more than ever, grassroots youthwork charities such as Helm provide crucial support for young people helping them find a positive destination that is right for them. Helm’s vision is a Scotland where young people dare to dream about their futures.
For this reason, on Teen Mental Wellness Day, Helm is proud to celebrate that we’re part of The Young Person’s Guarantee. The Young Person’s Guarantee is a commitment to bring together employers, partners and young people. It aims to connect every 16 to 24 year old in Scotland to an opportunity. This could be a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training or volunteering. It could also be an enterprise opportunity.
As a partner, Helm’s role is to help young people and employers. We support the aims of the Guarantee which include fair work, the living wage and good employment conditions. We also work locally with employers and with local and Scottish Government to promote the aims of the Guarantee. As a proud partner, Helm is recognising the vital importance employers play by providing safe and supportive working environments, a contributory factor to young people’s positive mental health.
Ally Calder, Helm’s Chief Executive, says: “Helm is incredibly proud to work with DYW D&A to achieve the YPG badge as recognition of the hard work and dedication of the team. Helm’s day to day focus is about supporting young people into the world of work. For this reason, it is really important to us that we are part of the solution and offer opportunities for young people to learn more the world of work and ultimately achieve employment. The YPG badge demonstrates both our values and the effort we put in to make our values a reality.”
For young people who are interested in finding out if Helm might be right for them, you can find out more by visiting – https://www.helmtraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Find-out-more-about-Helm.pdf