We all have mental health and yet there still seems to be an old fashioned , unfair stigma surrounding it .
Four Devon teenagers have created a firstof-its-kind curriculum that tackles growing mental health issues amongst students . Developed by young people , for young people , the Spark UK charity provides crucial resources and guidance for schools across the country . It focuses on the issues that affect teens the most , addressing everything from sleep to stress to suicidal thoughts .
The group stressed that opening a conversation about mental illness was a crucial step in addressing growing issues of depression and suicide , warning that adults can ’ t just dismiss them as ‘ hormones ’.
Birdie Downing , 16 , Head of Content , said parents will often ‘ blame themselves ’ if their children are struggling … but we ‘ must not shy away from problems ’.
Founder Conor Warren , 15 , said :
“ We ’ ve come across a lot of organisations guided by adults … but we don ’ t know others that are run by teenagers with no adults telling us what we can and can ’ t do .
“ We just want to do good , make a difference and help as many people as possible .”
The Spark team – aged from 14 to 16 – produced the curriculum while in full-time education , which is now used by schools in Devon , London , Bristol and more . And , to ensure their resources are available to everybody that needs them , the catalogue of lesson plans , newsletters and posters are completely free .
Joseph Carter , 14 , Head of Written Content , said :
She highlighted that teachers are currently facing ‘ huge pressures ’ when it comes to the mental health of students , but don ’ t receive enough training to effectively tackle the issues .
Spark UK hopes that their teen-driven and first-hand led resources will give schools the tools they need to fight for the wellbeing of young people .
The group has also garnered the attention of big-name celebrities , with everyone from Emma Thompson to Stephen Fry lending their fame to the charity ’ s ‘ All-star Advent Calendar ’.
Launching December 1 , the mental health-focused Christmas countdown features a line-up of stars – including Bradley Walsh and Jessica Plummer – who will spread awareness about issues affecting teens .
“ We want to raise awareness of mental health and encourage young people to talk about their experiences . We all have mental health and yet there still seems to be an old fashioned , unfair stigma surrounding it .”
The event will also ‘ bring a smile to people every morning ’ through the festive season and raise money for Young Minds , a UK-based charity that shares the same priorities as Spark when it comes to protecting the wellbeing of teenagers .
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