An innovative new platform The Mind Map launches today – a new platform providing young people with subsidised counselling, free mental health services and resources.
This new new mental health portal focuses on providing young people, predominantly aged between 16 – 30 access to subsidised counselling, the ability to find and book free mental health services and resources as well as access to a magazine that shares articles and interviews with well-known musicians and sports athletes regarding mental health, all in one place.
Launched by Liverpool-based mental health organisation The Mind Map, the platform is the result of a three-year research project carried out between The Mind Map and leading organisations with Mental Health at the centre of their agenda with contributions from Liverpool John Moores University, Imperial College London and the NHS amongst others.
Founder Phil Bridges, a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor and Adolescent Mental Health university lecturer said: “We all have mental health – good or bad. But our research uncovered what we suspected – that young people don’t feel they have access to the support they need, in a format that is accessible and relevant to their everyday lives.
“Our latest quantitative study into online mental health provisions showed a staggering 88.5% of students at Liverpool John Moores University felt that there were not enough online provisions available.
“To also help us uncover the mental health needs of young people we ran workshops at organisations including the NHS, Merseyside Youth Association, Edge Hill University and the National Citizens Service. Out of that was born our ‘World of Wellbeing’ concept. A holistic offer where exercise, nutrition, employment and money support are provided alongside a map with all the free mental health services available to young people.
“We have also brought together our first wave of BACP accredited therapists who specialise in adolescent mental health. From August, we will be recycling the economy by reinvesting our profits back into our community, supporting those who have the most need and making therapy available for free to those who can’t afford it. Ultimately this is something that we will roll out nationwide”
The Mind Map are aligning action with awareness and promoting a New Normal where people can talk as openly about their emotions, as they’d talk about last night’s game or the latest TV series. Browsing their immersive magazine section leads you to international musicians and Premier League footballers talking about everything from anxiety to grief and how they have dealt with their respective life challenges and mental health issues. This creates dialogue, reduces stigma and helps put Mental Health front-and-centre as an important issue to the young adults of the UK and their welfare.
Visit www.themindmap.co.uk @themindmapco