What we do

UP (www.lookingUP.org) is a group of under-30s who want to support people of our own age affected by depression. Our aim is to raise awareness of depression, promote understanding of mental health issues and work to reduce the stigma that might prevent depression sufferers seeking help. If you are worried that you might be depressed we are here to encourage you to seek the best support to help you learn to overcome the illness, improve your quality of life and realise your full potential.

We are part of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT).

Why target young people?

Depression is widespread among the under-30s. We often struggle to cope with the pressures of education, work, money, relationships and simply finding our way in the world. Sadly, we’re also the age group most likely to try to cover up any mental health issues.

Unwarranted shame, lack of information or believing we should just ’pull our socks up‘ mean that we’re often unable to admit to friends, family or even ourselves that something’s wrong. But with depression, something is badly wrong.

We believe it shouldn’t be this way. Treatment really works – if you can find it; at the moment there’s no clear path to getting help in the UK. In our experience, the most common answer to the question “what would you do if you felt depressed, or worried that a friend might be?” is “I don’t know”. We want to answer that question and if you are affected by depression help you find the support you need.

How is UP working to beat depression?

We want to help explain the dangers and nature of depression, and encourage young people to get involved with fundraising for research and treatment. Our biggest challenge is changing perceptions.

We’re committed to getting the word out: depression is a treatable illness that isn’t embarrassing or shameful. It isn’t a sign of weakness. Many well-known and successful people have experienced depression, from Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi to Ewan McGregor, Owen Wilson and Beyoncé Knowles. Although available treatments may not banish the illness for good, specialists are able to help you cope with and overcome your depression so that you can lead a normal, happy life and fufil your potential.

We want to help anyone suffering from depression to identify it and, more importantly, help them find effective treatment and support. Our funding supports our own projects and those of CWMT.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT)

We are part of CWMT, a charity created following the death of 28-year-old Charlie Waller. Since Charlie’s death, CWMT has worked to increase awareness of depression and mental health issues, encourage sufferers to seek help, and remove the stigma attached to mental illness. CWMT monitors and supports research, education and other initiatives related to depression.

For more about CWMT and the projects they fund, visit their site.