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We are doing a sponsored walk for Talk2Nish, a charity set up to fund Talk2Nish Peer Mentors, a mental health peer mentoring programme for schools.
It aims to address the growing crisis in young people's mental health and involves training sixth-form students to be peer mentors who can listen to and help other students who might find it easier to talk to someone their own age about their problems. The mentors are supervised by the school.
Covid has foregrounded mental health, but mental health problems have been increasing for many years, particularly among young people, with the World Health Organization saying that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Mind says that in 2018-19 24% of 17-year-olds reported having self-harmed in the previous year, and seven per cent reported having self-harmed with suicidal intent at some point in their lives. 16% reported high levels of psychological distress. Moreover, the number of A&E attendances by young people aged 18 or under with a recorded diagnosis of a psychiatric condition more than tripled between 2010 and 2018-19. Schools have often not had the resources to provide adequate services.
Mandy Garner, founder of Talk2Nish Peer Mentors, which is inspired by her daughter Anisha who was killed in 2020, will be walking with her two daughters from Anisha's student accommodation in London Bridge to Brighton, one of her favourite places. The aim is to raise funds for the charity to expand its work to more schools.
Anisha was a hugely empathetic person, who listened to and encouraged her friends and family, but also, like many young people, needed support herself. Talk2Nish knows the extent of the challenges facing young people, but also knows that they are already on the frontline of dealing with it - as friends. We want to empower, recognise and support them to really make a difference.