We are a group of 5 from Cumbria and we are undertaking a social action project, to raise awareness and funds for Carlisle and Eden Mind.

In finding a charity to support for our social action project we talked to a lot of different providers, but Mind stood out from the rest. We weren't aware of Mind or their vital presence in Cumbria and the rest of England and Wales, and in speaking to them we learned a number of sobering statistics. For example, 1/4 of young people of young people in the UK are estimated to be suffering from mental health issues. Mental health issues like depression, anxiety and stress. We specifically talked about stress, and found that many of the issues raised were relatable to our own experiences of mental health. Many people our own age suffer from stress due to exams and the difficulty of transitioning into adulthood. This issue can be compounded by personal issues like bullying, divorce and traumatic experiences. Many people also suffer from depression, which can lead to horrific circumstances like self harm or even suicide, so if mental health is such a big issue in our lives, why haven't we talked about it before? Why hadn't we heard of mind or any of the shocking statistics they gave us?

The sad reality is that there is a large amount of social stigma and taboo associated with mental health issues. This means that many people affected by mental health issues cannot speak openly about their problems and get the help they need. Mind gives these people this support with their helpline and counselling. They are also helping break the stigma by talking not only to those affected but people around them.

This is why we are campaigning for this charity, if you feel like you cannot contribute financially, please share this and spread the word to as many people as possible to raise as much as we can.