Huxlow students help to “Stamp Out Stigma”
Northamptonshire’s annual Mental Health Awareness Day took place on Friday 9th February 2018, and Huxlow Science College students showed their support through a range of activities throughout the week.
Over the past few months, a small group of Huxlow students have been working with their peers from across the county to produce a guide for teachers and parents/carers called “All I Ask”.
The group were distributing wristbands and spreading the word to students and staff across the College in the run-up to Mental Health Awareness Day, when schools across the county join together to show their support for the campaign to “Stamp Out Stigma”. The day provides a great opportunity to raise awareness of mental health stigma to young people in lots of interesting, fun and inclusive way, culminating in a balloon release at midday (above and below).
The Northamptonshire Mental Health Stigma Programme is driven by young people to:
- Help spread the message that ‘mental health is everybody’s business.
- Increase awareness of mental health needs, draw attention to the stigma and discrimination experienced by young people with mental health needs and challenge the negative perceptions of mental health needs
- Raise awareness amongst young people about mental health issues, stigma and where they can access help and support
- Encourage young people to take responsibility for tackling mental health stigma
- Work with young people to develop services that are accessible and in settings that young people are comfortable in.