New support groups are set to be launched to encourage and enable young people to look after their mental health.

The county-wide education and support programme is being launched by charity Dorset Mind today after a successful pilot.

Dorset Mind Your Head is aimed at children and young people aged between 11 and 24 years in schools, colleges, universities and youth centres and offers a comprehensive programme of activity that includes assemblies, workshops, PHSE lessons, one-to-one counselling, peer mentoring, befriending and drop-in support groups.

Weymouth College and the Thomas Hardye School are among the organisations already taking part.

Since the pilot began in January this year, Dorset Mind Your Head has already reached 4,250 children, young people and their parents right across the Dorset area.

Chief executive officer of Dorset Mind, Marianne Storey, said: “This is a first for Dorset and a programme that has considerable demand. Teaching young people how to live their lives mentally healthy, preventing difficulties, building resilience and catching mental health problems early, before they have a chance to mature in later life is essential. Alarmingly, over seventy per cent of children and adolescents who experience a mental health condition, acute or otherwise, don’t receive the proper support they need. Our aim is to stop this in its tracks and ensure our children and young people have a future that is free of the shackles of mental health difficulties.

“Local NHS statutory mental services are strugglingOur aim is for Dorset Mind Your Head to compliment the great work CAMHS is doing whilst also supporting children and young people before and after there is a need for specialist support. One in ten young people have a diagnosable mental health condition and over half of adult mental health problems start before the age of fourteen so we know that there is a real need.”

Dorset Mind Your Head has been designed and developed in collaboration with schoolteachers, children, young people and CAMHS (NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) professionals.

David Upshall Insurance Services of Dorchester and six local Rotary International Clubs have funded the initial phase of the campaign. Dorset Mind is committed to on-going fundraising for this project and is keen to work with new partners who would like to raise new monies and ensure the continual success of Dorset Mind Your Head.

Dorset Mind Your Head also offers five free support groups to help children and young people live a life that is mentally healthy:

  • Connected Minds, Blandford – 6 week gentle activity based support group designed to help improve school attendance (for ages 11 – 16 - referral only)
  • Connected Minds, Dorchester – 6 week gentle activity based support group designed to help improve school attendance (for ages 11 – 16 - referral only)
  • Wellbeing Group, Dorchester – Drop in support group that helps develop emotional awareness and wellbeing (open to anyone aged 13 – 16)
  • Drop In Counselling, Dorchester – One to one counselling 30 minute sessions (for ages 11 – 24)
  • Drop In Counselling, Wareham – One to one counselling 30 minute sessions (for ages 11 – 24)

Please visit www.dorsetmindyourhead.co.uk for times, details and locations.

Visit www.dorsetmindyourhead.co.uk