Open Minds

The three year project aimed to raise the voice of children and young people with mental health issues and raise the awareness of mental health issues facing young people today by publishing stories in the mainstream and specialist media.

During the project, Children's Express was able to bring together a diverse group of over 200 young people to work on stories that were then published. During the lifetime of the project, 44 stories on all aspects of young people's mental health were published in magazines and newspapers including The Guardian, New Nation, Sunday Express, Community Care and Young Minds magazines, local newspapers in Belfast, London, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Stories were also broadcast on Sky News and videos for specialist showings were also produced. The young people interviewed reported that talking over their issues with other young people rather than adults was beneficial and less inhibiting. They believed that having their views published would lead to less stigmatisation and stereotyping of young people with mental health issues.