Challenging the Stigma around Mental Health Issues in Young Adults

Dear guests and friends of UPF

As you may know we have a Young Achievers Group who are chosen from amongst the young people recommended to us by the network of UPF Ambassadors for Peace. This group have already deservedly been awarded Young achiever award because of their public mindedness, efforts and activities over the past few years. In the past this group has worked to support refugees in feeling welcome in the UK and to encourage young adults to engage with parliamentarians among other things. Currently their efforts are focused on mental health, particularly the stigma surrounding it which prevents people, but especially young adults, from discussing it and seeking the support they need. It is our view that although professional advice should always be sought, just being able to talk freely about your mental state will have a positive impact.

The young achievers’ passion for challenging the stigma around mental health issues is driven by the loss of Matteo’s girlfriend’s sister whom committed suicide during the Christmas Holidays 2017. Matteo is the founder of ShoutOutUK and a Young Achiever.

The issues surrounding mental health are broad and varied but after a brainstorming session we came to the conclusion that it is because of the stigma around mental health that prevents people, especially young people, from seeking help. The stigma itself is a complex issue and it is also through the brainstorming session that we decided to tackle by doing a hackathon.

A hackathon is interactive and combines group work with individual contributions; where any and every idea is explored. Individuals silently write each of their ideas on how to overcome the stigma onto post-it notes in two minutes and these are discussed in small groups to decide the two best ones, and these are then presented to everyone.

Each team will be supported by at least one planning committee member (young achiever) as well as one speaker/professional. The beauty of this arrangement is that after the hackathon there will be support (including the availability of our head quarter’s premises to be arranged by UPF) to meet and continue formulating solutions and plan spin-off events.

Our hackathon is also interspersed with speeches from: 

Elham Fardad, EY Senior Manager will share her challenges in her teenage years

Mary Keightley, Resilience coach will speak on “why resilience matters? How to rewire our brain from pessimism to optimism?” and “Managing anxiety, sadness and anger in myself and others”.

Joanna Squire, Psychiatric Nurse will share her journey from having undiagnosed bipolar mental condition and facing multiple challenges to understanding her problem and changing her career to helping others as a psychiatric nurse.

We will also have a representative from the mental health charity SANE

And a Representative from 1 in 4 Mental Health charity counsellors to say a few words from their perspective.

We hope that you will join us in finding a way to stem the mental health epidemic that is affecting today’s youth on the 7th April at 43 Lancaster Gate, London. The event starts from 1030am and refreshments will be available.

Please contact us to let us know if you will be attending. We would like to hear from you regardless of your decision. Our contact details can be found below. 

Also note that while all those interested in the topic are welcome, priority is given to young adults (18-30) and their families and friends. 

Yours sincerely,

Robin Marsh / Margaret Ali                         Matteo Bergamini                                  Dominic Hoyte                     

UPF Directors                                             Founder and CEO, ShoutOutUK           YA Co-ordinator, UPF              

07956210768 / 077 2302 4750

Universal Peace Federation – UK   
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UPF is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations