School & College Mental Health Talks
Our mental health talks to schools and colleges are primarily about prevention – opening up and talking about your mental health, and how to access help if required. The sessions are open to everyone – pupils, teachers, and lecturers.
We openly discuss all aspects of mental health drawing on our own experience but tailored to meet the needs of the age group we are meeting. Sessions are approximately 45 to 50 minutes and we can carry out up to 3 sessions a day.
We discuss mental health honestly and highlight good mental health, drawing from our personal experiences and coping mechanisms that we have found helpful for our well-being.
75%
of mental illnesses start before a child reaches their 18th birthday
50%
of mental health problems in adult life start before the age of 15
10%
of school children have a diagnosable mental illness. This means that, in a class of 30 students, 3 will have a mental health problem
75%
of young people with mental health problems are not receiving treatment
51%
of young people feel embarrassed about mental illness
In the sessions, we talk about...
What is mental health?
Why we don't talk
How to open up & talk about your own mental health
What is anxiety?
Why we should talk
The importance of your own wellbeing & coping techniques
What is depression?
How you can help someone
How to obtain help
Q&A Session
The increase in anxiety and depression amongst young people started long before the pandemic, but mental health problems have skyrocketed, and crisis presentations have surged since coronavirus took hold. Wellbeing has to be central to the way we teach our young people if we want them to thrive.
We aim to provide a safe and secure environment to discuss mental health. Our talks are aimed at encouraging pupils to be actively involved in the discussions. Sessions we have carried out in the past has led to students seeking help for their own mental health issues.
The Men's Mind Project came to MidKent College to talk to groups of students. Very emotional and personal accounts of their own lives to raise awareness of the importance of talking and in particular to get males talking.
Great project and a very important message.