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Supporting young people and volunteers – Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

Date: 8th May 2022 Author: Jon Nutten

Mental Health Awareness Week 9-15 May. For Mental Health Awareness Week this year, we’re raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it.

Loneliness is affecting more and more of us in the UK and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic.

Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. We can all play a part in this.

1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 young people experience a mental health problem (Mind, 2020).

Mental health can sometimes feel like a complex and intimidating subject. However, anyone can experience a mental ill health, so being able to talk about it’s important to us all. 

Mental health refers to the way we think, feel and act. Everybody has mental health, the same way everybody has physical health, and we need to look after it

Lots of things can impact mental wellbeing for young people and adults such as a challenging time at work or at school.

Supported by MIND, SAMH and Inspire we’re supporting Better Mental Health for all.

Five ways to promote good mental health

Connect

1. Connect…with people around you, your family, friends and neighbours. Put five minutes aside to find out how a member of your group really is. Spend time in meetings strengthening relationships between leaders and young people.

Be active

2. Be active…by doing something your group can all enjoy together. You don’t have to be Olympic Athletes to be active. Go on a walk or hike, spend some time gardening, or do an activity such as cycling or having a kick about in your local park.

Take notice

3. Take notice …by being more aware of your surroundings and what is happening right now, for example the changing seasons, or the local environment. Ask your members what was good about their day.

Keep learning

4. Keep learning…by trying something different. Complete a badge as a unit that stretches the group, find out about Scouts around the world, research an issue important to your members.

Give

5. Give …to others, to feel good yourself. Start a community impact project or volunteer with a local charity.

How you can get involved in Mental Health Awareness week

Take part in one of our many activities below, or head to our activity finder

NSPCC’s Childline – For 1-to-1 chat support and 24-hour helpline for young people.

Phone: 0800 1111
Websitechildline.org.uk

Samaritans – Samaritans offer a free service any time 24/7. If you need someone to talk to, they listen. 

Phone: 116 123
Website: samaritans.org 

Mind – Mind Infoline is open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Phone: 0300 123 3393
Website: mind.org.uk

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron, a great honour for UK Scouts.

The King continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.

Find out more
King Charles III

Our Patron, HM King Charles III