Shawmind, Newark’s number one mental health and wellbeing charity, is asking students, businesses and the local community to Sock it to Stigma during Children’s Mental Health Week (3-9February).
Sock it to Stigma is an awareness and fundraising campaign, aimed at highlighting mental ill health among young people and to raise vital funds to enable Shawmind to continue to deliver its Breathe Youth mental health and wellbeing programme to local schools.
Sock it to Stigma will take place on Friday 7 February and invites local people of all ages, who simply need to don a pair of brightly coloured socks and donate, to get involved.
Those taking part are asked to share photos of their socks on social media, tagging in Shawmind on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, using the hashtag #SockittoStigma, as well as donating.
Donations can be made (with the bill payers’ permission) by texting SHAWMIND5 to 70085 to donate £5, SHAWMIND10 to 70085 to donate £10 or SHAWMIND20 to donate £20.
All texts will also cost your standard network charge.
Last year the charity’s Breathe Youth programme engaged with more than 600 young people and encouraged them to become more open about their mental health needs. Discussions focused on topics such as bullying, self-esteem, peer pressure and the impact of social media.
The charity, which relies on the generosity of its donors and fundraisers and the dedication of its team of volunteers, wants to offer more support to local children and young adults.
Su Hallam, Charity Manager at Shawmind, said: “The figures around children and young people struggling with the mental health and wellbeing are not going away.
“One in eight five to 19-year-olds will experience mental ill health and almost a fifth of all 17 to 19-year-olds face mental health challenges.
“We are passionate about giving local young people a safe space where they can talk about their feelings and concerns, where they will be listened to and supported, and where they can be signposted to additional services, so things improve.
“To be able to run these sessions we need the local community to get behind us and show the younger members of our society that we care.”
A £5 donation will help the charity support one young person during a Breathe Youth session at a local leisure destination, such as the LetsXcape Together Boardgame and Event Café.
To find out more about Shawmind visit www.shawmind.org or follow the charity on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Shawmind is a charity that believes everyone should have access to mental health and wellbeing resources when they need them.
One in four people are affected by mental health issues each year, but many find it difficult to access support and ongoing services and this is what drives the charity to provide communities with positive mental health and wellbeing support.
Shawmind introduced the Breathe Café programme in summer 2019, giving local people regular access to sessions that provide opportunities for supportive listening, social interaction, peer support and signposting to other services.
Breathe Youth is a programme of events which take place in primary and secondary schools and local colleges. Sessions include pop-ups, where visitors can drop-in, inspirational talks from mental health and wellbeing authors and guest speakers and creative collaborations.
For more information visit: www.shawmind.org
Media enquiries to:
Kerri McGarrigle
Marketing Manager
kerri.mcgarrigle@shawmind.org
01636 600830
