Children and young peoples' mental health
Working in partnership with Thrive LDN and Baring Foundation we've launched our flagship mental health programme for children and young people, Thriving Through Culture. The programme is designed to support children and young people experiencing mental ill health through art activities.
Our aims:
- raise awareness of the impact of the arts on children and young people’s mental health
- raise awareness of groups providing support for children and young people
- understand London’s culture and mental health programmes and share these with our stakeholders (for example schools, link workers, youth services and many others)
- create a key resource to support children and young people experiencing mental ill health.
About Thriving Through Culture
Thriving Through Culture consists of three programmes:
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World Mental Health Day Festival, curated and delivered by the Mayor’s Peer Outreach Team annually. The next event will be in October 2023.
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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. -
New resources to showcase best practice.
A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds
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.
Get involved
Are you a young Londoner? Part of an arts organisation? or a mental health worker? Or a policy maker or funder?
We’d love you to join the 2.8 Million Minds network which supports the project and create this change together.
Write to [email protected] to join the network mailing list and be informed of opportunities to engage.
We're always happy to discuss how you can get involved with our Thriving Through Culture programme. To find out more get in touch at [email protected], stating ‘FAO Creative Health and Wellbeing team’.
Arts and mental health providers in London
- ACAVA
- Apples and Snakes
- Arcola Theatre
- Arts Network (SELAN)
- Bethlem Gallery & Bethlem Museum of the Mind Blackfriars Settlement
- Breathe Arts Health Research
- Cardboard Citizens
- Cathja
- City of London Sinfonia
- Core Arts
- Culture&
- Daily Life Limited
- Dulwich Picture Gallery
- East London Dance
- Foundling Museum
- Freedom from Torture
- Freud Museum
- Kazzum Arts
- Key Changes
- King’s College London’s Cultural Community Maslaha
- The Mental Fight Club/Dragon Café
- Music Support
- Outside Edge
- Peabody Housing Association
- Play for Progress
- Queercircle
- Raw Sounds
- Richmond Fellowship
- Royal College of Music
- Soundcastle
- Sound Minds
- Spread the Word
- Studio Upstairs
- Sydenham Garden
- Wellcome Collection
- Westminster Mind/Portugal Prints
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