A NEW three-year partnership between a retailer with a store in Reading’s town centre and a mental health charity.
Marks & Spencer has teamed up with YoungMinds to raise £5 million, and the fund has been kickstarted with a £1m corporate donation.
To support the new partnership M&S and YoungMinds have commissioned new research to better understand young people’s mental health. The research, published today, found that:
Research suggests that despite struggling, two-thirds (65%) of young people haven’t asked for formal support, with a third saying they are too embarrassed to do so.
Loneliness is the biggest cause of mental health problems in young people with 44% saying loneliness had a negative impact on their mental health, and 61% of those waiting for mental health support had stopped attending school, college, university or work.
Almost two-thirds (59%) said missing school made them feel isolated from their friends and nearly half (47%) said it made them worried for their future – impacting their mental health even further.
Outside of education and work the research also reveals the social consequences of not finding support, with many young people dropping out of sport, stopping exercise and hobbies, not seeing friends, and experiencing problems in relationships with families and partners.
The research clearly shows that waiting for support can lead to worsening mental health, with 41% of those seeking support saying their mental health had got worse while they were waiting. More than 20% of young people have waited more than six months for formal support.
Victoria McKenzie-Gould, corporate affairs Director at M&S, said: “When we asked colleagues and customers what issues were front of their mind, their family’s mental health was top of the list. It’s a growing issue which touches us all, with around five children in every classroom struggling.
“YoungMinds brings practical help, hope and optimism to what can seem like an overwhelming problem, and that optimism is what will help us make a difference.
“We have a huge opportunity to help YoungMinds raise awareness, support with much-needed funding – which we’re getting underway today with a £1m donation from M&S – and perhaps most importantly to help people know what to do when a young person in their life needs some help. Together, we’ve got this.”
Laura Bunt, chief executive of YoungMinds, said young people are experiencing pressures unique to their generation.
“Having grown up in a pandemic, they are now living through a cost-of-living crisis and in an increasingly unstable world. Referrals to services are at record highs, and too many young people are struggling without support,” she explained.
“This new research paints a picture of what happens to a young person when they are struggling, and worryingly reveals that many are still not seeking support. We know that when young people feel seen, heard and listened to, things can get better.
“This ground-breaking new partnership with M&S will help us reach more young people and the adults around them than ever before.
“Over the next three years, we will work together to show young people that they are not alone with their mental health and provide vital advice and guidance when they need it most.”
