Being young can be a challenging time – and it can be even more challenging when you are experiencing mental health problems. Newport Mind’s projects for children, young people and families give young people the opportunity to access mental health support earlier, and improve their confidence and ability to lead active lives.
Newport Mind’s own research shows that many young people don't always feel comfortable talking to a healthcare professional or other adults about their mental health - they would rather talk to someone their own age who understands them. So Newport Mind uses peer support and peer mentoring schemes to reach young people who might not otherwise access the support that they need.
Thanks to the support of the Pixel Fund, Newport Mind will be able to train more peer mentor volunteers, who will then go into the community to provide support for other young people – whether at their school, youth clubs, friendship groups or within mental health support groups. Each peer mentor has access to support from Newport Mind’s support workers, including self-care, advice on how to deliver simple training to their peers, and advice on how to support someone in a crisis.