Simple acts of friendship
Our work includes supporting a cohort
of young people willing to use their
personal experience to challenge
stigma and discrimination. They are at
a point in their recovery where they feel
inspired “to make the change they want
to see in the world”.
Young people say that they’ve faced
stigma from friends, family and teachers.
One of our young champions told
me that her classmates took her anti-
depressants from her bag and read out
the side effects. They laughed at her,
saying she couldn’t be depressed
because she’s so bubbly. It’s these kinds
of attitudes we’re aiming to tackle
in November’s ‘In Your Corner’
schools campaign. (see box, right)
We want to show young people
how being a good mate can make all
the difference. We’re not asking them
to be mental health experts, just to be
themselves and do everyday things like
meeting up at the school gates or
texting in the evening. These simple
acts of friendship could change
someone’s life.
An emotionally literate
future workforce
To date, more than half of secondary
schools in England have delivered Time
to Change activities. Our work supports
this current generation to be more
open about mental health than
any previously.
Looking ahead, young adults who
are more aware of mental health now
will be better able to support their
future colleagues to be more open:
emotionally literate people make
intuitively good leaders who are able
to create a culture where people feel
valued and able to bring their whole
selves to work.
WELLBEING
QUICK
• One in 10 people
under the age of
16 experiences a
mental health
problem.
• Creating a mentally healthy school
environment helps prevent stigma
around mental health and mental
illness, opening up the conversation
for students and staff.
• Time To Change’s November
campaign highlights the importance
of ‘simple acts of friendship’ in
safeguarding young people’s mental
health – and future prospects.
RESOURCES
Free resources and advice are
available for teachers, to support
Time To Change’s In Your Corner
campaign. Schools are asked to
commit to delivering four short
sessions about mental health during
the month of November.
bit.ly/TTCSignYourCorner
“We want to show young people
how being a good mate can
make all the difference”
ABOUT TIME TO CHANGE
Led by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, Time To Change is a
growing movement of people changing how we think and act about mental health
problems. Its Children and Young People’s Team has created resources that any
secondary school can use to run their own Time To Change Campaign.
time-to-change.org.uk
FUTURE TALENT // 73