A series of FREE one-day conferences around the UK

BB leaders tell us that they are increasingly becoming aware of mental health issues in the young people they work with.

Here are some facts from www.youngminds.org.uk

• Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14.
• 45% of children in care have a mental health disorder – these are some of the most vulnerable people in our society
• Nearly 300,000 young people in Britain have an anxiety disorder
• Roughly 725,000 people in the UK suffer from eating disorders, 86% of these will have shown symptoms before the age of 19.
• One in 10 young people deliberately harm themselves regularly (and 15,000 of them are hospitalised each year because of this)
• Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression

It has been decided to run Regional Conferences next year to raise awareness of these issues and how we can help young people who are suffering or vulnerable. The conferences will help promote and sign post other organisations and agencies and highlight partnership working. Key speakers in various fields connected to mental health are being invited along and there will be many other partners and organisations in attendance.

More information coming soon – but put the dates in your diary:

13 FEB 16 Edinburgh, Scotland

5 MAR 16 Belfast, Northern Ireland (leaders from RoI are warmly welcomed to this event)

16 APR 16 Nottingham, England

30 APR 16 Felden Lodge, England