Mental health support & awareness

Our #VirtuallyMinded Project is all about raising awareness of male mental health particularly in teenagers and young men.

Mental health problems in young adults are worryingly common, especially depression, anxiety and misuse of alcohol and other drugs.

Shockingly, for young men aged 15 -24, suicide is the leading cause of death.

The stigma attached to mental health problems often deter young people, especially men, from seeking help. 

The Virtually Minded Project aims to change perceptions, raise awareness and get young men talking about mental health using the power of comic book art and social media. 

We have developed a 5 week programme which is designed to help young men aged 11 – 19 years old increase their confidence and self-esteem, participate in social action and become more proactive in their community.

What’s involved? 

Sign up to our 5 week training program to learn about Male Mental Health and gain the skills to create a social action campaign using urban art and social media.

There will be opportunities to attend national Comic Con events and to help plan and deliver the annual YMCA Comic Con event to raise awareness of Male Mental Health.

Your five week training programme: 

Weeks 1-3 

• 3 two-hour workshops on Male Mental Health, the stigma and why it’s different to be a ‘man’ with poor Mental Health  
• Training on becoming a peer mentor and a #virtualhero

Weeks 4-5

• 2 two-hour workshops on creating a social action campaign 
• Access to comic book and urban artists to help you create a piece of artwork around Mental Health
• Showcase your campaign on social media to highlight the important of awareness and sharing