Change-Makers: #reflectingonmentalhealth

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For their Keep Doing Good project this summer, Tilly and her team of Change-Makers wanted to focus on mental health.

“We chose mental health as we felt like there isn’t enough awareness about it in our local community” said Tilly, “specifically in school...which can be a really stressful and anxiety provoking place for young people.”

The team wanted to create a digital space to talk safely about mental health and encourage young people to share their experiences of mental health and their current thoughts and emotions in regards to coronavirus. 

Tilly explained, “with less social interaction and the increasing anxiety surrounding exam results and going out to places like restaurants again, we felt a platform was needed for people to talk about their mental health.”

So, they set up an Instagram page and created the #ReflectingOnMentalHealth campaign. The idea is simple: take a picture of yourself in a mirror and use your caption to reflect on how you feel, talk about your mental health journey and share your thoughts. 

But that’s not all. Tilly and the team wanted to do something to support the charities that look after mental health. “We will be selling wish bracelets and donating the money to Mind. Wish bracelets are a bracelet that you wear and put the intention of a wish on. Then, when it eventually breaks, your wish is thought to have come true” Tilly said. “We thought we could relate that very well with mental health, as people could put their positive mindset as an intention for better things to come.” They also put up posters in shops with tips on how to look after your mental health, and links to appropriate helplines and charities. 

Finally, the team took to the ground - literally! They helped to rejuvenate a plot of land in their community, planting lots of flowers to brighten up the space and give people somewhere nice and quiet to spend their time.

Tilly explained, “the garden provides a beautiful area of flowers and greenery for the residents of the town, and users of the nearby bus stop to look at and help uplift their mood.”

And it’s not only the local residents who appreciate it. The Director of England Wales at the Mental Health Foundation recently spoke about the increasing evidence showing the positive benefits of green areas on people’s mental health, saying that it has restorative and protective benefits. 

#ReflectingOnMentalHealth is an ongoing campaign, so check it out on Insta and upload your own mental health stories and journeys to take part. 

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