MindMate, the advice and support website for young people in Leeds, are working with Leeds Street Gallery to paint a graffiti mural at the LS-TEN skate park in Hunslet to raise awareness of mental health issues for children and young people in Leeds.
MindMate, commisioned by the NHS in Leeds, has a wealth of resources that young people and parents in Leeds can use for support and advice, as well as directing them to local services.
As well as a graffiti mural at LS-TEN Skate Park, MindMate are also working with Leeds Urban Bike Park in Middleton to promote the MindMate resource.
Jayne Bathgate-Roche, Pathway Integration Leader at NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, said:
“We are pleased to be raising awareness of children and young people’s mental health for this very important week. It is important that we speak openly about mental health so that more children and young people feel able to speak about how they are feeling to others and most importantly, seek help when they need it.
“The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year is nature and we know that spending time outdoors has been a significant part of children’s lives over the past year or so. We are working with LS-TEN skate park and Leeds Urban Bike Park, because connecting with others in the community and keeping active are both vital for a young person’s mental health.
“I encourage children and young people to speak about how they are feeling, whether it be within the family, to a friend, a teacher, or a health professional. Adults such as parents and teachers can support this too. The MindMate website www.mindmate.org.uk has a wealth of resources that children, young people and parents can use for support and advice, as well as directing them to local services.
“We know it’s not always easy to talk about mental health, but we want to encourage children and young people to have open conversations about their wellbeing, and to reach out for help when they need it.”
Tosh Wilson from LS-TEN skate park said:
“We’re really proud to support MindMate during National Mental Health Awareness Week. Having the mural and supporting communications here is really important to us, it’s raising awareness to all our visitors that help and support is out there if you need it.”
MindMate have worked closely with Magpie, an award-winning behaviour change agency in Leeds to arrange the activity.
This post is based on a press release issued by NHS Leeds
