Creativity, community and connection: how Stoke-on-Trent is supporting young people’s mental health
By Isaiah Ellerton, YMCA Resident.
In recent years, conversations about mental health have become far more open. That is a positive step forward. But for many young people across Stoke-on-Trent, the challenges around wellbeing remain very real.
In recent years, conversations about mental health have become far more open. That is a positive step forward. But for many young people across Stoke-on-Trent, the challenges around wellbeing remain very real.
While communities showed remarkable resilience, the pandemic also exposed how fragile some support systems can be.
To better understand the experiences of young people locally, YMCA North Staffordshire worked with Keele University and the University of Staffordshire to speak directly with young people across North Staffordshire about their wellbeing and the support available to them.
The findings were revealing.
Many young people told us that accessing professional mental health support can still be difficult. Long waiting lists, confusion about where to turn, and services that feel hard to navigate mean help is not always available when it is needed most.
Yet there is also an encouraging story behind the statistics. Eighty-six per cent of young people we spoke to said they feel supported in their lives.
That figure highlights the importance of the everyday relationships that surround young people. When formal services are difficult to access, young people often turn to families, friends, teachers and youth workers. These trusted connections create safe spaces where young people feel able to talk, be heard and begin to work through challenges.
Many young people are also discovering their own ways to protect their wellbeing. Creativity and physical activity are proving to be powerful outlets. Some turn to drawing, music, crafts or writing to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. Others find confidence and balance through sport, exercise and staying active.
These themes are explored in the new season of the Young Leaders Podcast, recorded at YMCA North Staffordshire. In the first episode, Emma Fitzsimmons talks about how creativity helped support her own mental health and how she now uses those same approaches in her work with young people.
Creative spaces, she explains, can help young people open up, build confidence and discover strengths they may not have recognised in themselves. In some cases, these passions can even shape future careers.
Across Stoke-on-Trent, organisations are building on these ideas to strengthen support for young people.
Schools are playing a central role. Initiatives such as the Emotional Mental Health in Schools Pilot are helping schools develop whole-school approaches to wellbeing while also providing targeted support for pupils who need it.
Partners across the city, including local authorities, health services, education leaders and community organisations, are also working more closely together to strengthen early support.
At the same time, young people themselves are helping shape the future of services through youth councils, forums and co-designed projects that ensure their voices are heard.
Supporting young people’s mental health cannot rely on a single programme or organisation. It requires communities, schools, services and young people themselves working together.
Across Stoke-on-Trent that collaboration is growing, and organisations like YMCA North Staffordshire are proud to play their part.
Because young people’s mental health should be on our minds every day. It’s a priority for our whole community.