Children and young peoples' mental health

Thriving Through Culture consists of three programmes:

1. World Mental Health Day Festival, curated and delivered by the Mayor’s Peer Outreach Team annually. The next event will be in October 2023.

2. Children and Young People’s Mental Health Action Plan - 2.8 Million Minds.
   There are over 2.8m children and young people in London. 2.8 Million Minds is a project about how culture can help support their mental health and wellbeing. The GLA is working with Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Chisenhale Gallery and artist the vacuum cleaner  to create an action plan to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.

3. New resources to showcase best practice.

One in six young people aged 5-16 have mental health struggles. 

How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered, and funded?

In May 2022, three groups of young people from Haringey and Tower Hamlets presented their manifesto for young Londoners, A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds, to the Houses of Parliament. Reflecting on their own experiences, facilitated by artists Becky, Yomi, Tyreis and Simon as well as partners Madlove, Chisenhale Gallery and Bernie Grant Arts Centre, they have highlighted the need and potential for art and culture to transform young people’s mental health structures.

Mayor of London is now focusing support on testing three recommendations from A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds: 

• A Committee for 2.8 million minds; a monthly creative space for young people to become leaders in mental health.
• 2.8 million artist studios; create a new model of a studio space that supports young people struggling with mental health.
• A sharing of 2.8 million minds; a biennial festival for young people.