Youth Mental Health Day - 19th September

Encouraging understanding and discussion of mental health in young people

Digital connections are forever increasing, connecting with friends, teachers and family online is all possible, but this has come at a cost for the mental health of our young people. 1 in 4 young people say they feel socially anxious, lonely and overwhelmed as a result of feeling socially disconnected from society, which is why stem4’s theme this year is #ConnectMeaningfully.

This year, Space2BHeard is supporting the campaign with a number of mental health care resources. Our self-help books and leaflets support those struggling with their mental health and provide advice for anxiety, panic, worry, body confidence and facing up to your feelings.

We’ve also put together a short guide on protecting your mental health whilst on social media:

1. Reflect on your mood – take some time to assess how you’re feeling when you’re looking through social media. If you feel low, it’s best to take a break.
2. Spend less time there – Assess the right time to be on social media, avoid browsing just before bed.
3. Prioritise in-person interactions – consider putting your phone or tablet away if you are presented with an opportunity to spend time with friends or family.
4. Cull your connections – if you need a break from specific content, consider unfollowing, or muting that content.
5. Put yourself first – the first step to mental health care is to look out for yourself whether this is on social media or in social situations.