YOUNGSTERS needing a helping hand to overcome mental health problems are finding ropes, pulleys and teamwork are giving them a vital lift.
By together tackling physical challenges, like scaling giant pines at an outdoor adventure centre, they are building the confidence to cope with everyday life’s highs and lows.
Lows that may have led to shutting out families and friends, withdrawing from education and social groups, and entering into a downward spiral of anxiety, depression and loneliness.
The Sharp Minds project, which works with 11 to 18-year-olds across Coventry and Warwickshire, aims to reverse that spiral.
And it’s being boosted by an award of £5,000 by the WPH Charitable Trust which supports people with mental health problems in the region.
Since 2013, the Trust has now given a total of £14,500 to Sharp Minds which works with children with a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia or personality disorders.
Some may be entering into the early stages of mental illness while others may have already been the subject of interventions over many years, but have yet to see any improvement.
Using one-to-one mentoring as well as weekly group activities, it gives young people the opportunity to build friendships with their peers.
Sharp Minds started as a small weekly group meeting and has now expanded to group meetings in Stratford, Warwick and Leamington, catering for up to 15 young people in any one session.
David Skoppek, Chief Officer of Young People First, which runs the Sharp Minds programme, said: “Since the inception of Sharp Minds we have seen our young people grow in confidence, make new friends and learn tools to help them manage their mental health problems.
“As a result, young people have returned to education, secure employment and actually started to enjoy life. This year one of our eldest members started university which was a major triumph for all!”
He added: “Young People First is only able to do what it does thanks to the support of grant making charities like the WPH Charitable Trust.
“Through their consistent support of our work since its early days hundreds of vulnerable young people have grown in confidence, make new friends and learned how to better manage their mental health problems.”
