More Funding For the Mental Health department in Southmead Hospital

We are a group of ten teens who are participating in the National Citizen Service Programme. For our social action, we decided to address issues around Teens' Mental Health. Statistically 1 in 10 teens struggles with their mental health. However, there are many more that don't speak out because there are many restrictions in their way. One of these restrictions is stigma which we want to address in our social action. Another big restriction is the lack of support available. We want more funding's from the NHS to help people around Bristol who are suffering with their mental health.

One of our group members struggled with their mental health; here is her story. "Over the past few years, depression has been an unwanted friend. During this period, I also dealt with abuse and bullying which affected me emotionally. This caused me to give up with everything. I couldn't be bothered to get up yet alone revise. After my GCSE's finished life at home got worse. I lost the only friends I had. I didn't leave my bed. I started to get bad thoughts about suicide which lead to self harming. I was too afraid to tell people because of my severe anxiety. Once i opened up and told my friend, I realised there were people that wanted to help me. I was just looking in the wrong place. I decided to not end my life there and then but now I continued it until this day where I can say I'm recovering."

Another member of our team had an experience where their sibling's treatment for anorexia was significantly delayed due to a bed shortage because of the lack of funding.

These are just two peoples stories. Since so many teens have their own experience, we want to help make it easier for others to receive the support they need as early as possible so they don't have to suffer in silence.