Skipton’s animated video aims to help overcome Blue Monday
A VIDEO aimed at young islanders who might be struggling with their mental health has been released for this year’s Skipton International Purple Monday campaign.
The third Monday in January has become known as Blue Monday since it is supposedly the most depressing date of the year, when the weather is likely to be dark and grey, debts become reality as pay day is still some way away, post-Christmas blues set in and New Year’s resolutions may have already failed.
The Purple Monday campaign is aimed at under-25s and an animated video has been created to encourage them to open up and talk about their mental health.
A recent NHS study in the UK showed that one in six in the seven to 16 age group said they had a probable mental health disorder, compared to one in 10 in 2017, and the trend was likely to be mirrored locally, said Skipton.
It spoke to the Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney and Guernsey Mind to find out about the current mental health concerns for the age group and it discovered that social pressures from peers and social media caused a lot of anxiety and stress for the island’s young people.
The video has been produced by Orchard PR and will be shared with secondary schools, local community groups and on social media (#PurpleMonday #HereToTalk).
It includes tips from Guernsey Mind to help people cope, reminding them that they are not alone and pointing them to where they can find further support.
Skipton managing director Jim Coupe said the company was passionate about supporting the community’s mental and physical wellbeing.
‘Looking after our young people is so important,’ he said.
‘After our previous support with Talking Benches Guernsey and hearing from them about the importance of people talking to each other to make life better, we wanted to share this important message further and it felt fitting that we use our Purple Monday campaign to do this – using an engaging format we know appeals to this younger age group.’
An educational mental health and wellbeing team has recently been launched by the Youth Commission and this works with schools to offer ‘low-intensity cognitive behaviour therapy’ to young people with mild to moderate anxiety or who are concerned about their low mood.
While referrals to the team can be made directly via school,
people can also contact the Youth Commission direct for further
advice at youthcommission.gg or on 226099 or Guernsey Mind at www.guernseymind.org.gg or on 722959.
. The video is due to be available on YouTube from today at youtu.be/DxEUKZNxGhU
