STOP PRESS!

By now most of you should have received a copy of the change your mindset youth activity pack, produced in partnership with UK Youth, The Scout Association and The Guide Association as part of the Department of Health's mind out for mental health campaign. The pack is a dynamic learning resource, crammed with activities and factsheets, to engage young people with the issue of mental health. Containing crucial information, and lots of thought-provoking group activities, change your mindset is an invaluable resource to help young people challenge their own thinking about mental health, and end the damaging cycle of stigma, discrimination and fear.

It’s clear that young people are confused and fearful about mental health problems. But it’s also clear that they want to know more, and recognise the value in tackling the stigma and discrimination around these important issues.

That’s why the mind out for mental health campaign is making young people a priority, and it’s why the youth activity pack has been put together with the help of peer group leaders from UK Youth, The Scout Association and The Guide Association. As group leaders, you can play a vital role in the mind out for mental health campaign, by helping to raise awareness of the truth about mental health problems, and by tackling the taboos that still surround the issues. The pack will give you the confidence, information and ideas to work with your group in a safe, but challenging, way. It contains an introduction to the issues, factsheets on the main mental health conditions, case studies, lots of lively activities, and plenty of contact details for organisations, helplines and websites to give you back-up information and advice.

The mind out for mental health campaign has also created a website – www.mindout.net. The site is designed primarily for adults, but is lively and accessible enough for most young people. Log on to raise your own awareness about the issues, challenge your own thinking, and get more information and advice.

Why not decide to make using the change your mindset pack part of your plans for working with your group? If you do, you’ll be helping your group to address one of the most persistent and damaging forms of stigma around today, and helping them to deal with mental health issues in an informed and positive way.