A moving video created to help raise awareness of youth isolation and mental health issues for Loneliness Awareness Week (June 14th to 18th) has officially gone live.
Titled ‘Feel So Alone’, the production is a collaboration between award-winning musician Rekesh Chauhan and the Randal Charitable Foundation, and features the vocals of MOBO-nominated artist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, with the film directed by a BAFTA crew starring choreographer and dancer Oliver Robert Russell.
View the video here.
It aims to encourage young people suffering with mental health difficulties to seek help, at a time when feelings of isolation, loneliness and anxiety have been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is pleased to support this video because suicide is the biggest killer of young people across the UK. Every year more than 200 schoolchildren are lost to suicide.
We help young people who are struggling with life and anyone who is concerned about a young person who may be having thoughts of suicide.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Chairman of the Randal Charitable Foundation, which aims to directly save lives and significantly improve people’s quality of life, said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Rekesh Chauhan to create this video, which so many people who feel alone, depressed and anxious will be able to relate to. We hope it will play a key role in publicising the challenge as well as the wide-range of help and support available.”
Research from the Office for National Statistics shows that loneliness levels were higher in young people who are unemployed, full time students and single parents in each wave of a survey, which has tracked the mental health of the nation since March 2020.
Rekesh Chauhan added: “It is important for me to continue the conversation on mental health. Arts is a powerful medium, which we can all resonate with. As an artist I want to use my music to end stigma and help people find the critical support they require, needed now more than ever”.
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
