Well-being in the snow

Despite the chilly weather and some snow underfoot, an intrepid and committed group of around 50+ people took part in the walk around town to discuss "what more can be done to ensure that young people have good mental health and well-being". I'd like to think that had the weather been sunnier and warmer, we would have had at least double that number. Certainly, my plan is for this happen again next year, perhaps with a similar but slightly different topic of conversation.

Before I go onto my own personal learning and reflections on the discussions, I would like to thank several people for their support:

• First of course, it was simply wonderful to work with the current High Sheriff, Peter Kara and the University Vice Chancellor, Sir Anthony Seldon on pulling this event together. Thank you to them both for their energy and support.
• Their colleagues Kathryn Hobbs (PA to the High Sheriff), Diana Blamires (Publicity Manager for the University), Purnima Anhal (Private Secretary to Sir Anthony Seldon) and Dean Jones (Development Coordinator for the University) who all helped massively in coordinating the logistics and hot drinks at the end
• Waitrose Community Champion, Carly Burgess who organised water, fruit and cereal bars at the beginning of the journey - thank you! The provisions were much appreciated.
• We were honoured to have the Vice Chancellor of the Open University,  Peter Horrocks with us on the walk who had also generously sponsored lots of sandwiches, fizzy drinks and cream cakes at the end. Thank you!
• And two students, Maia Okoloba and Daria Ermolenko who made and sold cakes at the end of the walk too. I am told by Maia that they have made £220 for MIND so far. Well done and thanks!

I am also grateful to Kathryn Hobbs and Corrinna Martin for the pics below. There are many more, and with a good write up on these news pages.

  

Warmth, tea and cakes at the end!!

So what learning and ideas was I left with at the end of this journey? It's a mixture:

• Mental health first aid should be taught as much as the 'ordinary' first aid in schools, sports clubs, scouting/guiding groups etc
• One preschool teacher said that in her many years of teaching, she is now seeing children arrive with far less social and language skills. In her opinion this is due to parents not engaging as much with their offspring (eg reading night time stories or just playing with them) as parents used to. Is this this true for others? And is this storing up problems for the future?
• I talked with several people about how our imagination can help us stay well and healthy. One person suggested that we don't allow young people to get bored these days which might mean their imagination is not being stimulated... I am still pondering on this.
• Relevant to the post below about the University graduation ceremonies, the VC of the OU told me about how many of the students that he congratulates on graduation, walk across the stage in tears of joy. He told me of one chap in his 40's who was crying so much that he could not initially climb onto the stage: getting a degree meant that much to him (having being told in his youth that he would never amount to anything..). So that left me wondering: what more can we each of us do to support young people's ambitions, hopes and dreams (and not crush them)
• And I was struck again about how much good exercise and good cake is good for our mental well being!
• And I learnt about the fantastic work being done by Lindengate - a charity which is literally growing good mental well-being for the people (young and old) who are involved with their services. 

So all in all, a pretty darn good way to think about action and ideas concerning mental well-being amongst young people. We will do this again!