New online support service for young people announced on World Mental Health Day

Thousands of children and young people will be able to access an online advice service for support dealing with issues such as depression and anxiety as a result of a £500,000 government investment.

Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd has awarded funding to children’s charity MindFull, a new service which gives vulnerable young people access to counselling support services wherever and whenever they need it.

MindFull has been developed by the team at BeatBullying, the only site of its kind to be endorsed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, which has previously received over £1.3 million from the Cabinet Office to scale up its cyber-mentors programme.

MindFull is a direct result of feedback from thousands of young people in the UK who want the flexibility and convenience of an online service, according to the Government. In a recent survey conducted by MindFull of more than 2,000 young people, two-thirds (68%) said that putting mental health services online would be an effective way to tackle mental health issues.

Funded by the new investment, MindFull is the first social network aimed at improving the mental health of 11 to 17-year-olds by giving them access to support, advice and counselling. The grant will be used to expand the service for 18 to 25-year-olds, improve the site and train thousands of new young peer mentors who can offer advice and encouragement to other young people on the MindFull.org website.

The importance of services like MindFull is being highlighted across the country today (Tursday 10 October) on World Mental Health Day.

Emma-Jane Cross, CEO and founder of MindFull (part of The BeatBullying Group) said:

"This critical funding will make an enormous difference and will allow us to reach even more of the 850,000 young people in the UK who are struggling with a diagnosable mental health condition. In the three months since we launched the charity, many young people who are over 18 have told us they would benefit from a site like MindFull. Now thanks to the help of the Cabinet Office, we can extend our vital service to reach 18 to 25-year-olds who are at breaking point."

The Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd said:

"Beatbullying have a remarkable record in showing how training and mobilising volunteers around a cause can address problems even as devastating as mental health. By creating such a comprehensive online service, where young people spend so much time and feel comfortable communicating, MindFull.org will be able to reach even more of those in need of support. That is why we are so pleased to help extend this service to 18 to 25-year-olds and help those during such a crucial transition to adulthood."