A young person from Leeds, Charlotte Betteridge, is backing Children’s Mental Health Week (4 – 10 February) by urging young people across the city to be more active, which can help with their mental wellbeing.
Charlotte, 23, who is a MindMate Ambassador and volunteers for a local charity called the Market Place, as well as YoungMinds which is a national charity. According to Mental Health Foundation, a national charity, there are a number of things that can help keep children and young people mentally well. This includes being in good physical health, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise, as well as taking part in local activities for young people.
Charlotte (pictured left) said: “I’m really passionate about young people’s mental health, and I would encourage them to take up a activity as it really helps with your mental health. Physical health and mental health are both closely linked and being active can really benefit your mental health and wellbeing.
“I’ve had a tough time with my mental health from a very young age, and what helped me and still helps to this day is singing and dancing. It’s very uplifting and you don’t realise the positive impact this can have on you. I also find reading really helpful, as it helps me dive into a whole different world, and helps me forget whatever is affecting my mental wellbeing.”
Dr Jane Mischenko, Commissioning Lead for Children & Maternity Services at NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Children’s Mental Health Week has a particular focus this year on being ‘healthy inside and out’. This is a great way to help children and young people think about how improving your physical wellbeing, through eating well and regularly doing some physical activity really supports mental health.
“The MindMate website (www.mindmate.org.uk) is a dedicated mental health and emotional wellbeing website for Leeds young people, parents and professionals who work with young people. It includes top tips on feeling good and a dedicated section on how you can keep active, including a quiz to find the right exercise for you.”
Visit the MindMate website and click on the young person section, and go to ‘top tips on feeling good’ to help improve your physical wellbeing www.mindmate.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors
Children’s Mental Health Week 2019
Place2Be launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.
For further information about Children’s Mental Health Week, please visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/about-the-week/
About MindMate
MindMate is a dedicated mental health and emotional wellbeing website (https://www.mindmate.org.uk/) in Leeds for young people (age 12 – 25), parents and professionals who work with young people.
Role of a MindMate Ambassador
A team of young people who work with MindMate and due to lived experience, they all have a passion to support and improve young people’s health and wellbeing.
The Market Place
Services are free, confidential and available for 11 – 25 year olds in Leeds. They offer a range of services including one to one support, counselling, group-work and drop-in.
For further information about The Market Place, please visit www.themarketplaceleeds.org.uk
YoungMinds
YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
For further information about YoungMinds, please visit https://youngminds.org.uk/
Issued by the communications team at NHS Leeds CCG. You can contact the team on 0113 84 35528 or 0113 84 35470. Alternatively please email us at leedsccg.comms@nhs.net