YoungPAPYRUS
If you’re on this page because you want to help other young people - read on.
If you need help for yourself call HOPELineUK on 0800 068 41 41
Some history …
YoungPAPYRUS was originally set up by students at the University of Manchester, working with us to promote positive mental wellbeing in colleges and universities. They did some great work that continues in Manchester today and we want to roll this out across the UK.
We’re about all young people, not just those in education. We want to involve more young people from different backgrounds in what we do.
What we want to achieve …
We want to promote mental wellbeing and encourage young people to understand their feelings and emotional needs and how to deal with them. There’s a lot of stigma around suicide, which we know puts some young people off talking about it and seeking help. So we want to raise awareness that help is available when we feel we can’t cope, when things don’t work out and we’re fed up; that life is not worth living, that nothing’s fair. Check out our Support For You section.
We want to help young people deal with times of change. We know that times of change can be very stressful. For example when you leave home, change schools, move on to uni or college; look for your first job.
Our plans …
So far young people have
• produced leaflets, such as Listen to Me advising parents on how to talk to their children
• advised on other PAPYRUS literature and videos
• helped produce a transition pack on times of change
• produced an advice based website for students
Last year at Manchester University Freshers’ Fair we recruited students to come on board and handed out awareness leaflets. We were able to get our serious message across in a cool way and we aim to do more of these.
We run sessions with young people in a variety of sectors ... not only in education, but also young people who are homeless, or not in employment, education or training. With your support we hope to be able to extend these sessions to reach a lot more young people.
How Young People Are Involved
Sunscreen
The PAPYRUS presentation on coping with transition includes the song ‘Sunscreen’ by Baz Luhrmann, which is taken from an original essay by columnist Mary Schmich.
It was chosen because it contains advice relating to the time of life when young people are taking stock of the wider world and peering into their future. In line with the messages of the presentation, it encourages them to be their own people, find their own path and prepare for the inevitable ups and downs that face us all, all the while embracing the positive influences around them and rejecting the negative ones.
PAPYRUS and a group of young people from Bolton produced a music video to accompany this song that has been inspiring to so many. We hope it will raise a smile, bring food for thought and perhaps inspire others to undertake similar projects. Why not make your own video to this song?
Take a look on youtube: here
“Our generation should help our generation”
- Jess, 15, secondary school pupil.
“It’s important that young people’s views are taken into consideration, because young people can sometimes be made to feel unimportant.”
- Alex, 18, not in education, employment or training.
Mental Wealth Matters
PAPYRUS aims to enable university students to look out for one another, and encourages them to promote good mental health on their campuses.
In 2009 PAPYRUS held three events at Manchester University to see if any students were interested in taking action. A handful dedicated students came forward to see what they could do. They soon became an official society and campaigns group called Mental Wealth Matters.
The idea of mental wealth is to provide an alternative way of measuring the assets of a society in terms of its health and wellbeing, rather than its material possessions. Through campaigns, events and social activities they aim to build up the supply of mental wealth for all students at Manchester University and perhaps challenge the way we currently seek happiness and fulfilment.
They have grand plans for the new term…so watch this space.
The PAPYRUS Award for Mental Wealth
The Award scheme encourages university students and staff to run campaigns that promote positive mental health and wellbeing on UK campuses.
To date six initiatives have gained awards of £300 to fund events:
Student Katie McLaughlin from Psychology Society at the University of Nottingham wins for her proposal ‘We Play!’, an open Wii gaming event involving a combination of game play and exercise to improve mood and encourage collaboration between students as they work and play together.
David Walmsley, a staff member at the Disability and Dyslexia Service in collaboration with the Students’ Union of Queen Mary University of London, proposed an event focusing on ‘perfectionism’. Scheduled to take place on 12th October, this is described as ‘a hands-on eye-catching and engaging event featuring ice sculptures, the impermanent nature of which should challenge the rigid ideas that accompany perfectionist thinking’.
The winning idea from Mark Jordan and Nathanial Smith, from Cardiff Mental Wealth at Cardiff University is an event to provide post-exam stress relief. They will use the award to fund a range of activities around the theme ‘Getting in Touch with Your Inner Child’, enticing students with facing painting, a bouncy castle and a ball pit reminiscent of carefree days of childhood - as well as offering tools and advice to maintain good mental health.
Gemma Jerome, a founder of the Open Minds mental health student group at the University of Liverpool, gained her award to help fund tools and equipment for a community gardening project being organised by the group. The project aims to tackle student social isolation and close the generation gap when students and older allotment keepers in the community work together on an activity they all enjoy.
Jasmine Sangha a student executive at Glasgow Caldedonian University Students’ Association (GCUSA) gained recognition for her proposal to provide free t-shirts at a wellbeing fair in March - of a mental health campaign. Designed to reduce stigma, the t-shirts will carry slogans such as ‘I suffer panic attacks’ or ‘I suffer from depression’. They will be worn by GCUSA staff and volunteers for the week of the fair and then given free to students attending.
Caitlin Leach, a student at the University of St Andrews, won for her proposal for a range of activities on Mental Wealth Wednesday taking place at the university on 23 February. They include a laughter workshop, films, an art competition and sports events. Caitlin’s aim is to create a university environment where people can talk openly and comfortably about their mental health, knowing they will be treated fairly.
In the first two rounds applications were received from 22 universities. Initiatives submitted included ideas for film nights, a cookery show, wellbeing fairs and talks, a laughter workshop, art sessions, a theatre production and relaxation sessions.
Download details of how to apply for an award and an entry form here or visit mentalwealthuk.
How You Can Help
Learn how to help a friend
• Visit our ‘for friends’ page Support for Friends
• Become a better listener, by reading these tips
• Carry one of our helpline business cards
• Save the HOPELineUK number 0800 068 41 41 in your mobile in case one day you or someone you know needs it
• Send off for one of our free booklets Publications
Tell people about us
• Put a link to www.papyrus-uk.org on your website
• ‘Like’ the PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide page on facebook
• Share our page with your facebook friends
• Follow us on Twitter
• Send off for some HOPELineUK business cards and give them out to your friends
• Put one of our posters up in your school, college or where you work.
Get everyone involved.
• Ask your school, college, university or workplace to sponsors us as their charity of the year
• Ask your school, college, university or youth club to invite us to give a presentation
• Set up a mental health and wellbeing group at your university! Download our free 'how-to' guide here.
Fundraise for us
Set up a fundraising group. See our start fundraising page here Fundraising
For inspiration view (link) a presentation from Deeside College who adopted PAPYRUS as its charity of the year 2009 / 2010
Join us …
Will you join us to help PAPYRUS grow from strength to strength? Give us a call on 01925 572444 to find out more and how to join. Or email us at admin@papyrus-uk.org