Prevention is better than cure and our workshops help young people learn about how to achieve good mental health. They are delivered by mental health professionals alongside one of our Young Ambassadors who share their own mental health journey and counselling at No5.
Alyson Brickley, Director, said: “We are delighted that we can continue to provide free workshops in local secondary schools and not only that but we can now deliver more in the 2019 academic year. This has been made possible by an award from Postcode Community Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Experience tells us that workshops for young people in schools not only provides an opportunity to reach out to No5 for counselling but they pick up skills that they can come back to support their mental health education for life.”
Our outreach team work with young people in the workshops to provide an exchange of ideas and provide a safe place to discuss mental health. It’s not something to be hidden away and our Young Ambassadors work to demystify the perception that it is uncommon that everyone has a mental health. Minds need looking after as much as our bodies and the young people leave the workshops with resources on how to keep their mind healthy too.
Talking about the mental health workshops delivered in Highdown School, Mrs Tess Taylor, Head of Achievement for Year 9 shared feedback from students and parents saying, ‘Students were on the whole positive about the workshops with students saying they were informative, helpful and thought-provoking. A couple of parents said that they were pleased that the workshops were being provided and were most appreciative. Students also liked that it was delivered by an outside agency’.
We deliver six mental health workshops to students in secondary schools in the Reading area on the following themes:
- My Story – lived experience of mental health difficulty.
- Social Media – staying safe online.
- Body Image and Self-Esteem.
- Stigma and Loneliness.
- Gender Perceptions and their effect on mental health.
- Consent and Healthy Relationships.
To find out more about our workshops please contact Carly Newman, Operations and Relationship Officer, o 07342355425 or at carly.newman@no5.org.uk
