The #HelloYellow campaign, created by Young Minds and supported by HeadStart Wolverhampton as part of the city’s Youth Engagement Strategy (#YES), aims to raise awareness of the devastating effect that the coronavirus pandemic has had on children and young people’s mental health. They believe that together, everybody can make a difference and ensure that young people do not suffer in silence.
Getting involved is simple. You can wear something yellow – from neon socks to a banana hat – and take as many pictures as possible and share them on social media using #HelloYellow. You can also send them to sunita.pallan@wolverhampton.gov.uk for inclusion on the #YES website.
Schools and office settings can also get involved with a wide range of resources, such as fun filled activities and posters to print out. These can be found at Young Minds.
Some local organisations have already pledged to take part including The Way Youth Zone, which is turning it’s building yellow in the build up to Friday’s events.
Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has had a huge impact on children and young people not only in Wolverhampton, but across the world.
“Some young people haven’t seen their friends and families for prolonged periods of time, which undoubtedly will affect their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
“The #HelloYellow campaign is a great way of raising awareness of this, and I encourage everybody to wear yellow to let young people know that they are never alone with their mental health.”
To find out more about the campaign and access support if you are a young person struggling with their mental health, please visit Young Minds.
HeadStart Wolverhampton, a key part of #YES, works to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of 10 to 16 year olds by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life. To find out more, search for @HeadStartFM on Facebook and Twitter.
Councillor Reynolds added: "Since 2016, HeadStart Wolverhampton has provided vital support to thousands of children and young people in Wolverhampton, helping them to improve their emotional and mental wellbeing, so we are naturally delighted to support Young Minds' #HelloYellow campaign."
World Mental Health Day takes place on Saturday 10 October, 2020.
