Youth Mental Health Day 2024

Youth Mental Health Day is a campaign organised by the UK digital mental health charity for children ‘stem4’ and is dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by young people and promoting strategies to support their wellbeing. This year, the theme is #ControlYourScroll, focusing on helping young people navigate the digital world safely and positively.

In today’s fast-paced digital world, young people can easily connect with friends, be creative, and find entertainment and information online. However, these benefits come with risks that can have a negative impact on mental health. A recent survey by stem4 revealed that 93% of 1,025 young people had been scared by content online and that young people are worried about disinformation, scams, cyberbullying and the sharing of sexual images.

Services for Young People (SfYP) provides crucial support to help young people stay safe and protect their mental health. At all SfYP youth work projects and the 11-5 Projects at our young people’s centres, young people can discuss any concerns they may have, both online and offline. They can get information, advice and support on the impact of internet use on mental wellbeing and strategies for managing social media positively. Our Youth Workers and Advisers provide practical tips for staying safe online, such as what information to share on social media, recognising signs of cyberbullying, and how to access other support services.

SfYP also runs specific projects in all districts of Hertfordshire which help young people at risk of abuse and exploitation stay safe. These youth work projects follow our healthy relationships programme and taking part helps young people build healthy relationships, understand the dangers of child sexual exploitation, and explore what makes a relationship safe and healthy. They also learn how to use the internet safely and the importance of positive, safe relationships. The projects support emotional wellbeing, promote online safety and help young people plan for the future.

SfYP's mental, emotional, physical health and wellbeing projects, give young people the opportunity to discuss any challenges they may be facing and how they can improve their emotional and mental health. They also consider the impact of internet use on their wellbeing and help young people develop strategies for managing their use of social media positively.

Our preventative youth work programmes in schools and colleges offer tailored support to young people, helping overcome barriers to progression. We offer sessions on healthy relationships, personal safety, emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and more.

Find out more about our services to schools and colleges.

For more information and details on how to join an SfYP project near you, visit our youth work projects page. If you know or work with a young person who benefit from our support, please use the SfYP referral form or contact your local SfYP Team.