New Mental Health Champion campaign encourages young people to ‘Make Some Space’
The Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill has launched a new campaign, ‘Make Some Space”, aimed at promoting positive coping strategies in young people aged 11-19 years old.
Life for many young people can feel like a balancing act. Juggling school, family, friends, fitting in, the list goes on.
Most of the time they navigate these demands successfully, but sometimes the strain can become overwhelming.
They feel they must hide their struggles but pretending ‘everything’s fine’ can take even more out of that person.
By encouraging connections and open conversations at the earliest opportunity, we can help prevent small challenges from becoming bigger problems and ensure young people feel seen, heard and supported.
This campaign acknowledges the very real pressures that young people experience. While stress is a normal part of life, it’s important to recognise when stress is becoming overwhelming and then find ways to reduce the pressure.
The ‘Make Some Space’ campaign encourages young people to share their worries rather than carrying them alone.
Talking to a trusted friend, or family member can help relieve pressure, provide perspective and remind us that we are not facing challenges on our own.
Strong social connections are one of the most important protective factors for mental health, helping us to feel understood and cope better during difficult times.
Connecting with someone we trust can help us feel safe, work out ways of problem solving, and prevent problems from escalating.
While talking is helpful for many, there are lots of other ways to manage stress and look after our wellbeing. Going for a walk, spending time in nature, writing or drawing, listening to music, or being physically active can all reduce stress and improve mood.
The most important thing is to find what works for you and to make space for the activities and relationships that help you feel calmer, healthier and more connected.
Speaking about the new campaign, Professor O’Neill, a native of Co Derry, said: “A young person’s life should be fun and exciting as they set goals and plan their lives into adulthood. However, the data shows that young people today face considerable stress and pressure. Whilst stress is a normal part of life, it’s important to recognise when stress becomes overwhelming. This is why I’m delighted to launch my new campaign ‘Make Some Space’, which encourages young people to develop the strategies and skills to help them recognise when the pressure is mounting and take practical steps to regulate their feelings.
“The UK Government’s recent review of “overdiagnosis” provided a thorough assessment of the reasons behind the recent increases in referrals for mental illness among young people.
“It concluded that the increase in mental health difficulties, particularly anxiety and depression among young people, reflects a genuine increase in suffering, rather than simply greater awareness or willingness to seek help.
“This comes at a time when recent CAMHS statistics for Northern Ireland revealed that 1,731 young people were waiting to begin treatment, and 37.6% (651) of those awaiting assessment had been waiting longer than the nine-week target.
“Northern Ireland’s Mental Health Strategy set an ambition to allocate at least 10% of the mental health budget to CAMHS, recognising the importance of timely intervention. An additional £4.2 million was invested between 2022 and 2025, however £13.5 million was required, leaving a funding shortfall of £9.3 million.
“These figures demonstrate the gap between policy commitments and the resources needed to deliver them.
“The UK Government’s recent review of mental illness is highly relevant to Northern Ireland, where poor mental health is linked to disability, social inequality, and the legacy of conflict and trauma.
“Our research highlights the impact of school pressures and relationship difficulties on wellbeing. While helping young people manage stress is important, lasting progress requires coordinated action to reduce poverty and inequality and ensure schools promote social and emotional development.
“Mental health is one of the defining issues facing this generation of young people. Campaigns such as this play a vital role in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and equipping young people with the knowledge and tools they need to support their wellbeing.
“However, education alone is not enough. We must also ensure that when young people need additional help, timely and appropriate support services are there for them.”