The Affirm Project
For young people with mental health and emotional needs
The number of young people in our society with mental health and emotional needs is spiralling, some would say, out of control. 16.9% of 17-19 year olds reported a mental health or emotional disorder in 2018. That’s 10% of males and 24% of females. 53% of those females reporting had self-harmed or attempted suicide.
Resources are stretched, waiting lists for referral to mental health professionals are longer and longer (over a third wait more than 10 weeks and 20% wait over 6 months) and many young people are not getting the support and care that they need to recover and go on to lead healthy and productive lives.
Our Affirm project in North London is a targeted response to addressing those needs. Our aim is to expand this project into other London boroughs and replicate it in other areas of the country.
Where does this project operate?
Affirm currently provides service in in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Watford and has recently launched into Milton Keynes. We aim to continuously expand to other areas, given the huge and escalating mental health needs among our young people.
The why and how of Affirm
We know that the mental health and emotional needs of our young people in the UK are increasing at an alarming rate.
That was already true before the pandemic and the growing recession, which will affect our young people disproportionately badly.
Young people’s lives are being damaged and blighted and we need to intervene with targeted support as quickly as we can.
A recent study showed that 1 in 8 young females aged 17-19 had actively self-harmed or attempted suicide. Suicide remains the single largest killer of young men.
Initially we will support 25 young people using our usual mix of wraparound mentoring support, life planning and especially relational and therapeutic approaches.
We already have a lot of experience with mental heath needs among young people on all our other projects. We provide a wraparound support service including mentoring and therapeutic inputs over a two-year period, on a person-centred basis, to help young people recover from anxiety, depression and their other emotional challenges.
We work primarily with 17-21 year olds transitioning from children’s to adult services but as needed with young people aged 14-25yrs. Referrals come from Local Authorities, Health agencies, Schools and Colleges as well as self or family referral.
Our Project Manager, Bethany Suggitt brings both professional and life experience to the role and has great expertise in working to support young people’s well-being and recovery. Our CEO also has background experience of managing mental health services and previously sat on the North Essex Mental Health Partnership Board.
Carefully selected Mentors are recruited, trained and deployed to support young people under Bethany’s supervision. The Affirm project will work collaboratively with other agencies and key stakeholders to ensure that young lives are rescued and that young people are given hope and a sense of purpose - and confidence for the future.
We will extend and replicate this project as soon as we can and as much as we can. As stated above, the needs are enormous.
Affirm project outcomes and needs
Sadly, the number of YP in our society with mental health and emotional needs has increased at an alarming rate. 16.9% of 17-19-year olds reported a mental health or emotional disorder in 2018.
Trends suggest that year on year, issues like gender orientation, body image, loneliness, depression and negative self-esteem are becoming more acute for many YP. They feel unable to develop, have a lack of hope and expectation for their future. The Pandemic and Recession are making that worse. Suicide is the highest killer of young men aged 18-25 years. (Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017) 1 in 8 young females aged 17-19 yrs in the UK has self harmed or attempted suicide. Among our need groups of vulnerable young people the rates are often more than double that. Resources are stretched, waiting lists for referral to mental health professionals are getting longer and longer over a third wait more than 10 weeks and 20% wait over 6 months.
Affirm aims and outcomes
Positive social interactions
Reduced depression and anxiety, loneliness and helplessness through structured relational and ongoing support and mentoring
Improved wellbeing, friendships and self-awareness through working with others, including other YP on the same journey
Harm reduction and healing
Reduced self-harm and suicide or suicide attempts
A reduction in the use of substances and drugs as a temporary mask to YPs needs
An opportunity to share and express concerns safely in a non-judgemental environment and to move away from guilt and fear.
Personal growth and future planning
A positive route-map for the future for each young person and a sense of purpose and hope for their lives
A reduction in the number of YP who are prevented from gaining employment and education because of their challenges
Improved confidence, social skills and communication through learning new skills and receiving consistent encouragement