This Sunday will see South Londoners out and about to help raise money for children’s mental health.
Maudsley Charity is inviting people to walk, run or wheel for 5km on or around World Mental Health Day – this Sunday, October 10.
With the theme of “mental health in an unequal world,” the event is designed to be community based, encouraging people to walk with their friends and neighbours.
“Every step we take will support children living with mental health problems,” said Rebecca Gray, Maudsley Charity’s chief executive.
“We are working with young people, the NHS and researchers to ‘Change the Story’ on children’s mental health.”
The charity’s ‘Change the Story’ campaign aims to prevent and treat mental health problems in childhood or later life by supporting clinical and research work.
Half of adult mental health problems begin by the age of fourteen, and this is made worse by the pandemic, which, research suggests, has seen one in four children and young people having significant mental health problems.
Before the pandemic, the figure was already at a very concerning one in nine.
Maudsley Charity is a leading funder of the new Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, which is set to open in Denmark Hill in 2023.
The centre will be available to families through referral, and will allow researchers and clinicians to work together to approach mental illness in young people.
To join in on the walk, all you need to do is join the charity’s ‘5k in a day’ Facebook group. After registering, you will receive a free t-shirt and fundraising pack with further instructions.