Talk It Out – Youth Mental Health

One in six children aged 5-16 in the UK now struggle with their mental health. Please help us set up urgently-needed early intervention support.

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Thousands of children in need of mental health support

1 in 6 children in England now has a probable mental health issue, says the latest NHS report, compared with 1 in 8 in 2017.

Months away from school and friends in lockdown, anxiety about exams and the future plus difficulties at home with debt and unemployment has left thousands of children anxious and in need of mental health support.

Yawning gap

Currently, there is a yawning gap between the number of children suffering anxiety and depression and the availability of resources to help them. (More info on our Campaign page)

That’s why are aiming to raise £10,000 to expand our current youth mental health provision and create ‘Talk It Out’ Sessions for 5-16 year-olds in as many of our Community Hubs as possible.

Early intervention is vital

Imagine being the parent of a child who is self-harming and being put on a waiting list anything from 3 months to 2 years depending on your postcode.

This is the situation Oasis Youth Workers are seeing increasingly as they support families and young people with mental health issues.

‘We usually see three to four young people a week for 1-2-1 counselling sessions,’ says youth worker, Bobbiella Adoh, who is qualified in therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

‘Since Covid hit, we are seeing a lot more. If a young person doesn’t get help early on, something like mild anxiety can turn into full blown depression and months of missed education.

With your help, Oasis is in a position to move quickly and set up these vital early intervention sessions wherever they are needed.

You can help young people with mental health issues

Talk It Out will offer a safe and friendly spaces where young people can see a qualified mental health worker straight away.

The sessions will be informal and friendly, for example in an arts or craft-based activity setting, making it easy to talk. Somewhere quiet to think or simply have a cuppa and chat with a person who is qualified and who will listen and help work things out.

We already have a tried and tested mental health support structure in place in many Oasis Community Hubs and academies.

The service will focus on the individual needs of 5-16 year olds and will be closely aligned with health, education and care plans, and local authority services for people with learning disabilities and those in care.