LABC celebrates the work of YoungMinds at Westminster Christmas event

LABC President, Jayne Hall and Chief Executive, Paul Everall joined parliamentarians, young people, supporters and celebrities at an event celebrating the work of children’s mental health charity (and our charity of the year), YoungMinds.

The Christmas event highlighted the achievements of the charity in 2016 and recognised the need to continue its vital work campaigning and supporting the mental health of children and young people.

A YoungMinds activist and a parent spoke at the event sharing their experience and how the charity had supported them. Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP and Chief Executive of YoungMinds, Sarah Brennan, also spoke about how we must continue to support young people and their parents.

Jayne said of the event, “I am delighted to celebrate the work and achievements of YoungMinds. It is an honour to meet the young people that are challenging the stigma surrounding mental health alongside the charity.” 

"The celebratory event showcased the recent work of the charity and discussed campaigns, research and policy developments that have been made throughout this year"

Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive of YoungMinds said: “I want to say a big thank you to the young people and parents here for everything you do. It’s so impressive and inspiring working with you. There’s a whole range of things we’ve achieved, whether it’s through campaigning, providing services directly, improving and influencing services or training – and all of that has been made more effective by your involvement.”

John Bercow said: “The work that YoungMinds does in providing expert knowledge through the parents’ helpline, in training, development, outreach, publications and accessible online resources is incredibly precious.”

Jeremy Hunt said: “When you start the grassroots campaigns you have done at YoungMinds to change awareness and understanding of children and young people’s mental health issues, it has a very big impact… I want to encourage you, because it’s such an important thing to do.”

Research shows that:

• Three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health disorder
• Among teenagers, rates of depression and anxiety have increased by 70% in the past 25 years
• The number of children and young people who have presented to A&E with a psychiatric condition has more than doubled since 2010

You can find out more about YoungMinds’ work at www.youngminds.org.uk.