Youth development charity Positive Futures, is marking Mental Health Awareness Week

The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is anxiety, a common feeling that can sometimes get out of control.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, Positive Futures, a youth development charity in Liverpool is supporting young people and their families struggling with mental health and specifically anxiety through the provision of workshops, activities for young people promoting healthy eating, socialization, 1-2-1 talking therapy and fun activities to engage those struggling during these difficult times.

Mental Health Awareness Week, now in its 23^rd year, runs from 15-21 May and is hosted by the charity, Mental Health Foundation.

This year, the theme is ‘anxiety’. Across the UK, people are encouraged to get involved by sharing their experience of anxiety and the things that can help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.  As part of the campaign, the Mental Health Foundation will be publishing guidance on how we can manage and improve feelings of anxiety and prevent them from developing into a more serious mental health problem.

Claire Corran, CEO of Positive Futures said “Many of the young people we work with struggle with their mental health and anxiety. We have a number of success stories where young people have attended 1-2-1 sessions with our Targeted Support team and it’s helped with their anxiety. Sadly the number of young people experiencing mental health issues is growing, which is why we now run weekly wellbeing sessions which are particularly helpful, especially our Male peer discussion group. For too long it’s been seen as a stigma for young men to voice their emotions and feelings, but by facilitating our discussion groups where worries, anxieties and other mental health concerns can be talked about in a safe space, we are seeing more and more young people opening up and talking, which is the start of being able to identify those needing extra help, and providing it to them”

Alexa Charnley, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Mental Health Foundation, said:

“We all experience anxiety but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.  However, there are things we can do to manage feelings of anxiety and stop them becoming overwhelming.  For example, breathing exercises, physical activity, speaking to a trusted friend, or keeping a diary. You can find more information and guidance on our website mentalhealth.org.uk.

“This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re encouraging everyone to get involved by sharing their experiences of anxiety and the things that help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.  We hope people all over the UK will take part and help us to normalise conversations about anxiety and mental health.  We hope the week helps people to feel more confident in talking about anxiety and how it affects them.  Most importantly, we hope people understand more about what they can do to manage anxiety and what other support is available.”

Check out the range of activities and support Positive Futures provide young people in Liverpool here