Following the success of their last viral campaign, mental health charity Time To Change have released a new video in response to a survey that highlights some worrying attitudes among young people towards mental illness.
New research shows nearly one in 10 young people in the West Midlands think classmates with a mental health problem should not be at their school.
The same proportion of respondents in the survey, conducted by Time To Change, also feel they would stop being friends with a peer who had a mental health problem.
Rethink and Mind have joined forces once again to release another inspirational video: Stand Up Kid.
A young man speaks out to his classmates about his mental health issues
In the film, a young man who has been absent from school stands up in front of his classmates and talks frankly about his mental health issues. The class listen in silence, seemingly reflecting on their recent jibes.
After he sits down, another classmate moved by his courage to speak out, stands on her own chair to begin talking about her own mental health issues.
The film aims to shine light on how many young people are affected by mental health issues, and how they can be hidden from view.
From the Stand Up Kid video
Research also showed that nine out of 10 young people who have mental health problems have experienced negative treatment as a result of their mental illness, often from friends, parents and teachers.
Michael Crump, aged 18 from Birmingham said: “I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 13 and have faced all types of stigma over the years. Mainly, other classmates making fun of me and the symptoms of my illness. It had a huge effect on my confidence and can be one of the hardest parts of dealing with a mental health problem.
"Many young people pick on you because they don’t understand and it can be really difficult to explain unless you’ve been through it yourself. Stand Up Kid will help to spread the message that mental health problems are the same as any other illness – you need help and support to recover.”
Sue Baker, Director of Time to Change, said: “We know that attitudes around mental health are formed at an early age and it’s so important that we reach young people before their views become entrenched. Unfortunately, these statistics shows how many have already formed negative attitudes towards peers with mental health problems and this is something we desperately need to change.
"This is particularly crucial because around half of mental health problems start as a teenager. It's hard enough for them going through mental health issues without being rejected by friends and classmates.”