‘Headstuff’, a new mental health resource for 14 to 17 year-olds was launched on 10 October, as part of the celebrations for World Mental Health Day.

This leaflet was developed for the Changing Minds Campaign by Mentality, a national charity dedicated to promoting mental health. Designed in consultation with young people, this new resource aims to:

1. (a) challenge their perceptions of mental health problems

2. (b) increase their knowledge of mental health problems and mental health issues

3. (c) provide help on what to do if they are worried about themselves or a friend.

‘HEADstuff’ was piloted with groups of teenagers from different backgrounds to ensure that this new resource was designed and written in a form acceptable and challenging enough for this age group.

The researchers discovered that many 14 to 17 year-olds are ill-informed about mental health issues and tend to base their perceptions on portrayals of mental illness in horror films. Some other key findings include:

1. (a) nearly all the interviewees knew someone who had self-harmed

2. (b) girls were keener to understand a mental health problem and solve it, while boys felt uncomfortable talking about it

3. (c) young people were ignorant of the language to use when talking about people with mental health problems

4. (d) mental health difficulties were acceptable only if associated with stress or family problems

5. (e) schizophrenia was mistakenly seen as split personality and was associated with violent behaviour.

‘HEADstuff’ provides information about schizophrenia, depression, deliberate self-harm and eating disorders. It addresses the ‘facts’ and the ‘fictions’ in relation to mental health in general, and offers practical tips on what young people can do to help themselves or others.

Individual copies of this resource are free on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope from ‘Headstuff’, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG.

Details for bulk orders are available from www.changingminds.co.uk or by e-mail: [email protected].

The Campaign is very grateful to the following organisations, without whom this resource would not have been possible: Allied Zurich plc, The Cairns Charitable Trust, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Priory Healthcare, Sanofi Synthelabo and Wyeth Laboratories.