With the revelation that the Isle of Wight Youth Trust received over 1,000 referrals for young people needing to access their services in 2021, the charity is calling on Islanders to #BanishTheBlues on 19th September – Youth Mental Health Day.
Locals are asked to join in by not wearing blue and donating £1.
The Isle of Wight Youth Trust is the Island’s largest independent charity providing counselling and wellbeing support to children and young people aged 4-25 on the Island.
NHS research shows that 1 in 6 children and young people need support with their mental health, that’s 5 children in a class of 30. That represents 5,078 children and young people aged 4-25 living on the Isle of Wight.
In 2021, the Isle of Wight Youth Trust received over 1000 referrals for children and young people needing to access their services – current referral rates are averaging at 82 per month.
The events of the past 2 years have had an impact on all our lives, but for children and young people, the impact has been particularly significant. The impact on their education, employment, relationships and wellbeing threatens to scar them for the rest of their lives.
Research conducted by the Youth Trust in 2021 found that nearly a third of young islanders who responded did not feel positive about their future, almost half reported feeling terribly alone and isolated, and over a third had deliberately hurt themselves.
Jo Dare, CEO of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, comments:
“Young Islander’s need the support of the Youth Trust now, more than ever before. With half of mental health problems established by the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 25, it is essential children and young people get the right information and help earlier, when it is needed.
“It is important we get more people talking about mental health and we are committed to increasing access to support, earlier. On the 19th of September – Youth Mental Health Day – we are asking the Island community to come together to help raise vital funds for the Youth Trust by not wearing blue and donating a pound. If 1 in 6 people on the Island donate just £1 we could fund 1000 support calls or provide six counselling sessions for 55 children and young people”
To take part, just avoid wearing blue on 19th September and donate a pound (or what you can) to The Isle of Wight Youth Trust, and post a photo on social media (don’t forget to tag @iowyouthtrust and use the hashtags #BanishtheBlues #Iam1in6).
