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Being a young person can be tough, there can be many challenges with different transitions, peer relationships, and perceptions. Young people often internalise negative public attitudes and stereotypes. This is known as self-stigma, for instance, thinking you are a burden due to experiencing mental health issues. 

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This should not be the case.  

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Young people should be able to express themselves and their emotions freely without fear of judgement. We have to try and tackle stigma and investigate young people views and negative experiences of mental health together. 

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We aim to bring together young people, community organisations and researchers to explore understandings of self-stigma in mental health.  

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Through sharing experiences, we want to drive forward research for positive change for young people and their families.  

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With the help of Emerging Minds, we aim to improve how research on self-stigma and the mental health of young people can make a positive difference to mental health promotion and prevention. 

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We would love to hear from you all, and we encourage you to join our Specialist Interest Group on Young People & Self-Stigma in Mental Health. We think it’s crucial to hear from a diverse range of young people on their experiences of self-stigma and mental health. Please get in touch now if you would like to join us by emailing us or you can find our Twitter details by searching Young People & Self-stigma in Mental Health (@yp_MHstigma).  

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(Transcript from video)

Gain an understanding of what mental health self-stigma means to young people, through drawing on lived experiences

Reflect on best practices for engaging young people within research, involving knowledge exchange and research activities

Our Aims

Challenge mental health self-stigma and discrimination

Raise awareness of mental health self-stigma

Co-produce with young people on how to tackle to mental health self-stigma and promote mental health and wellbeing

What we do

  • Qualitative and quantitative research using participatory research methods with young people's experiences of mental health self-stigma and the causes/impact of these experiences.

  • Guide the production of anti-stigma resources co-produced with young people.

  • Themes and testimonials resulting from discussions at various events: the Mental Health Arts Festival, Strathclyde Images of Research event and/or oral presentations at conferences, knowledge exchange workshops in schools and for third sector mental health organisations.

  • Develop a series of infographics and blogs (impact dissemination materials) developed with young people to address mental health self-stigma.

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