For Mental Health Awareness Week 13th-19th May 2024 The Door’s CEO Victoria writes…

At The Door, we see daily how the competing priorities and pressures of daily life are impacting the well-being of those we support and know just how crucial it is that young people are equipped to manage their mental health. 

We are all aware that waiting lists for mental health support are the longest they have ever been, with some young people having to wait months or even years for the support they so desperately need.

At The Door we are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with local Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in the Stroud District to provide a more timely response those seeking support.

Known as Mentoring Gateway this suite of remote support offers either telephone or video calls to young people. Giving them a trusted adult to talk to who listens to them without judgement, simply being there for them when they need it.

When faced with mental health struggles many may assume that a clinical therapeutic response is needed and while that level of complex support certainly has its place, our team also have a strong track record, of providing something more fundamental (or simpler if you will).

Our formula of helping find someone who can listen, encouraging individuals to explore the possibility that there might be another way to look at things and equipping them to put in the hard work on both themselves and their self care underpins all of The Door’s mentoring services.

And we believe that this is often better placed to bring about positive change.

Mental Health affects everyone in one way or another and, while there are amazing services out there to support us, relying on the “establishment” to provide support for every single one of us just isn’t realistic.

So, at The Door we also work hard to enable those we support to build their own networks of trusted people and reach out for help in their immediate circle.

This way of supporting others has had a profound effect on so many young people over the years, since we started offering mentoring in 2006. So much so that many mentees report that they no longer need a statutory service to support them. They feel more confident and able to move forward, knowing they are equipped to deal with future ups and downs.

And this mental health awareness week I would encourage you to do the same. This year’s theme is moments for movement, recognising that getting up and moving can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing. So whether you pull on your walking boots and head out or just dance around the kitchen, take a moment to move this month. It might be just what you need.”