This project has now finished.

 

75% of mental health issues begin before people reach their mid-20s. But the sooner people get help the better they recover, so it’s really important to talk about mental health.

 

Misunderstandings was a short project designed to help young people (both with and without experience of mental health services) develop the words and skills to communicate with one another about their mental health. The project:

• explored our prejudices and came up with ideas on how we can help others to understand and use language more positively

• trained volunteers (young people) as learning mentors. They worked with other young people to help them become more confident about discussing mental health, explore their prejudices, and come up with ideas on how we can help others to understand, support and use language more positively

 

We worked with schools, colleges, and youth clubs who were interested in having a small team of those volunteers visit their organisations to generate debate and discussion about mental health. We ran short workshops, attended open days and parents evenings, and set up a table during lunchtimes. 

 

As part of the project, we created our own activities, films, and podcasts. If you would like to listen to our podcast, click here and scroll down to 'Youthspace'. Alternatively, have a look at this video - made by young people taking part in the project - which looks at the words we use to describe people with mental health issues and the effect these have.​