Are you partner organisation interested in learning more about YMHF - perhaps referring families and schools for our free-to-access support or maybe to discuss collaborating on a project? Our Co-Founder Joel wasn't able to attend a meeting this week, so recorded a quick video introducing our story and the work we're doing. Enjoy   ..read more

  We wanted to share some of the fantastic feedback Jade has received from her 'Reach For the Stars' assemblies with schools in Devon and Cornwall over the last month!  Jade has visited over 100 primary and secondary schools and delivered her assembly to over 35,000 students. Here is a short documentary made about Jade and her assemblies, called ‘What’s Your Story’. Jade has ADHD and faced a huge amount of personal struggle at school, academically, socially and with her own mental health. Between the ages of 9 and 12, Jade fought to overcome severe anxiety and depression which later ..read more

  Watch this video to meet the Youth Mental Health Foundation Co-Founders: Claire, Joel, and Jade! Click here to join our FREE online course to better support a young person struggling with mental health.   Who are we? The Youth Mental Health Foundation is a Devon-based not-for-profit organisation working with young people, families, and the wider community to address the crisis in youth mental health. We are addressing an urgent need for preventative education to build resilience in children, alongside early intervention strategies to prevent mental health challenges from escalating ..read more

  If you’re a parent supporting your child through anxiety and want to know what kind of support you could give, this post is for you. As a teenager, I had generalised anxiety disorder, and my parents' support was one of the biggest forces behind my getting better. I want to share what they did that worked well in the hope that it gives other parents in a similar position some guidance. I’m not going to lie and say that they got it right every single time. They were, I'm sure, just as blindsighted by the situation as I was. So I also hope that if right now you feel like your support isn’t ..read more

  Hi everyone - we've got some exciting news! We are so grateful to have been chosen by Melissa to take forward this amazing Facebook Group to support parents of young people who self-harm. We plan to be diving into our members' posts to give support and guidance FAR more often, running weekly live Q&As where you can ask for specific advice for your child and LOADS LOADS more. Watch this space...and remember that if you're currently in a very dark place, hang in there, lean on the rest of us here and know that things can get better. Sending love to our community and looking forward to ..read more

  Are you a Torbay parent or carer supporting a young person aged 8-17 struggling with mental health?  Anxiety, depression, self-harm, and other mental health struggles are on the rise among young people, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study shows that 1 in 5 children and young people in England aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental disorder in 2023. As parents, we can be left feeling overwhelmed and helpless, not knowing where to turn for help.  This 18-session programme will help parents/carers better support a young person struggling with mental heal ..read more

  During this cost of living crisis, we’re all juggling caring for our families with skyrocketing bills. But, even when the budget’s tight, your children’s wellbeing is still priority number one.  So, if you suspect that your child is struggling with their mental or emotional health, but pricey private therapy sessions are out of reach, what are you supposed to do?  Relying on overburdened free mental healthcare services like the NHS’s CAHMs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) can feel disappointing given the agonisingly long waiting lists. Fear not, though; there are ..read more

  This month, the Youth Mental Health Foundation team have been delivering assemblies and workshops to primary schools in Devon. Thanks to our funders, West Devon Borough Council, Teignbridge District Council, and North Yard Community Trust, we have been visiting local schools to build mental health resilience and self-esteem. Our school assemblies and workshops have been designed, developed and delivered by Jade Sutton, aged 19, who has lived experience of struggling with, and recovering from, significant mental health challenges.  Earlier this month, Jade was interviewed on BBC Rad ..read more

  Are you struggling to get your son to open up to you? You’re not alone. It’s deeply worrying when your child isn’t communicating with you. The first thing to say is that, unfortunately, this is very normal. The cultural influences boys grow up around tell them to ‘man up’ when they’re struggling. The ‘boys don’t cry’ mentality has unsurprisingly made them hesitant to talk about their emotions. They often feel under pressure to be self-reliant, so reaching out for support can make them uncomfortable. This ‘macho-mode’ is all well and good until things start to go wrong and you can’t ..read more

Today our co-founder, 19 year old Jade Sutton, was interviewed on BBC Radio about winning the BBC 'Make A Difference Awards'. Jade won the 'Volunteer' category in 2022 for her work supporting young people's mental health. The BBC recognised her 7 years of work, visiting hundreds of schools and speaking to over 35,000 young people about mental health. Her assembly presentations and workshop help build mental health resilience in young people, destigmatise mental health and encourage young people to ask for help if they're struggling. Jade has now gone to university ..read more