Nuneaton school has won a competition encouraging peers to stamp out the stigma faced by young people with a mental health problem in the West Midlands. The competition is part of a campaign run by Time to Change – England’s leading mental health anti-stigma programme run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.

The Nuneaton Academy fought off strong competition from other schools across the West Midlands to provide a winning entry to get students talking about one of the last remaining taboos. Working in collaboration with The National Schools Partnership, Time to Change encouraged school pupils to explore themes around mental health, before taking messages out to peers, families and the wider community.

The group of five, year eleven students, who aptly named themselves The Wellbeing Team, put together an impressive assembly presentation around the subject of mental health which took place in front of over 1000 classmates and staff members. They are the first school to have won this award and to celebrate their win, a short presentation took place.

Local Coventry born actress Holly Matthews best known for her role in Waterloo Road and Doctors made an appearance to show her support in the fight to end discrimination around mental health.

The Principal of Nuneaton Academy, Mrs McEvoy said:

“As an academy we recognise the impact of poor mental health which can be the result of so many factors, but is compounded by silence and isolation. We have a Wellbeing Worker because we consider it vital for young people to talk about the issues affecting their wellbeing and to put in place any help which can support the young people to cope with the fast-paced and ever-changing world we live in.”

Jo Loughran, Head of Time to Change Children and Young people said:

‘Engaging young people in the topic of mental health is the first step in encouraging open conversations around it. We’re really pleased to be involved with local schools across the West Midlands helping students to break down the misconceptions that surround mental health problems. We were very impressed with all of the entries and delighted to announce Nuneaton Academy as the winning school.’

Over 50 schools throughout the West Midlands signed up to the curriculum-led school competition to encourage young people to come up with creative ideas to stamp out stigma and discrimination around mental health problems.

This is part of a wider pilot project to encourage young people in the West Midlands to tackle the taboo around mental health. It aims to reach young people and their families, particularly those who have no prior knowledge of mental health problems, to change their attitudes and behaviour towards others who are affected.

For more information go to www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/resources-youth-professionals or tweet #standupkid.

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For more information please contact Larissa Abl, Time to Change Senior Press Officer, on [email protected] or 0207 840 3137.

Follow Larissa on Google+.

Nuneaton Academy: Annette Hoar on 024 76586509 [email protected]