Local Charity Calls for Action on Youth Mental Health Day


Stem4 wants local schools to become ambassadors


Stem4’s Dr Nihara Krause with her award for 2022 Charity Chief Executive of the Year Picture: stem4

July 3, 2023

Local teenage mental health charity Stem4 runs Youth Mental Health Day (YMHD) each year to campaign for the understanding and discussion of mental health in young people.

This year’s event takes place on 19 September to coincide with the new academic year and with the theme #BeBrave. The aim is to help young people be the best version of themselves and to find the courage and confidence to achieve their goals and ambitions.

Stem4, whose founder Dr Nihara Krause was awarded an MBE for services to young people’s mental health in the King’s Birthday Honours list last month, not only supports positive mental health in teenagers but also their families, carers, and educational and health professionals.

For YMHD 2023 the charity is providing a select number of secondary schools and colleges with the opportunity of becoming a YMHD 2023 Ambassador School. The selected schools and colleges will demonstrate their dedication to promoting positive mental health within their communities, and will also be able to start meaningful conversations with students about their mental wellbeing, and what it may mean for them to #BeBrave.

Schools, and anyone else who’s interested, can find out more info here

And register to sign up to be an Ambassador school at YMHD@stem4.org.uk

According to the website Awareness Days, mental health concerns for young people have multiplied in recent times. “Even before the COVID-19 crisis, one in six young people aged 5-16 had a mental disorder. Though times may be hard, Youth Mental Health Day is here to provide hope. By getting young people engaged in discussions and activities about how to improve their mental health, YMHD goes beyond awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, into tackling the heart of the issue.”

YMHD Ambassador schools will each receive an Assembly Pack containing presentation slides and a script, to make it easy for teachers and students to present on the day (September 19 th 2023).  

There will also be a chance to take part in the #BeBrave Wall event running in September in central Wimbledon, during which members of the public will be invited to write how they will #BeBrave on Youth Mental Health Day directly onto stem4’s #BeBrave wall. Ambassador Schools will recreate this activity in their own school/college, with the help of a YMHD Schools Activity Pack and other printed resources.  

Ambassador schools will be encouraged to host other #BeBrave activities, assemblies and events on 19 September , again with the help of stem4 comprehensive guides and resources.  

There will also be the opportunity to share ideas, plans, and progress with the stem4 YMHD Team, and Ambassador Schools will commit to sharing videos and pictures of how they participated in YMHD 2023 and be highlighted by stem4 as a passionate supporter of positive youth mental health.  

If Ambassador Schools want to put on their own #BeBrave activity, challenge, or fundraising event for stem4 on Youth Mental Health Day, the stem4 Team will be on hand to help by providing assistance or further resources.

  Stem4 founder Dr Nihara Krause is an award-winning Consultant Clinical Psychologist, with many years of clinical experience. Having worked as an NHS Consultant, she now runs her own private practice and is also a university lecturer.  

She developed the MINDYOUR5 wellbeing programme for schools and is the clinical creator of Calm Harm, Clear Fear, Move Mood, Combined Minds and Head Ed.  

In addition to her recent MBE, in 2015 David Cameron presented her with the Point of Light Award for her work and in 2014 she received the Mayor of London’s Award for her commitment to the community.

Dr Krause also received the ‘Making a Difference’ award for mental health from the Positive Practice Collaborative in 2016, and a Certificate for Outstanding Contribution to Merton in 2018. In 2019 Dr Krause was honoured with the British Citizen’s Award, health (BCAh) for her contribution to the health of children and young people in the UK. In 2022 Dr Krause won the Charity Chief Executive of the Year at the Third Sector Awards, while stem4 itself received a gong for Small Charity of the Year.  

 

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