Although it is very welcome that the stigma surrounding mental health appears to be reducing, it is apparent to everyone that mental health issues are rising fast, and particularly so amongst young people.
There will be many reasons to explain this rise (social media, cultural changes, family breakdown…) and while this debate rages, a charity called stem4 is busy confronting the issues that young people are contending with.
stem4 was established by Dr. Nihara Krause, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist over ten years ago, after a local young girl sadly died from an eating disorder. stem4 has grown into a great power for good. Moving to a largely digital platform for early health intervention, its apps have been accessed over 3 million times by young people from across the world, which is both an extraordinary feat and significant provision of support and we are pleased to include some testimonials in this blog attesting to the great outcomes achieved.
stem4 is not a counselling or a diagnostic service. Instead, stem4 concentrates its efforts and services on early recognition of common signs and issues of mental health concerns, which can result in serious impact on health outcomes, sometimes with terrible consequences.
stem4 focuses on five pillars of concern: anxiety, depression, self-harm, addiction and eating disorders. They have created highly effective apps for each of these conditions, allowing young people to recognise their own signals and then more crucially, these free apps offer clinically-informed, practical and effective techniques to cope with and confront these issues. stem4’s current digital portfolio includes: Calm Harm (to help manage and reduce intense emotions, such as the urge to self-harm); Clear Fear (to help manage and reduce symptoms of anxiety); Combined Minds (to help friends and family members support a young person's mental health); and Move Mood (to increase motivation and lift low mood).
stem4 also offers mental health education face to face, virtually and digitally through an extensive video-lesson programme called Head Ed, downloaded by over 1,500 schools in the UK.
stem4’s extensive, inclusive and exhaustive website is a great resource and destination for young people and all those who support them. As well as signposting its users to other mental health support, the site is abundant in information and all underpinned with a thriving community spirit and sense of belonging. On the site are blogs and case studies of young people experiencing and overcoming the same issues that bring visitors to the site. Every care is taken to negotiate highly sensitive areas in what is a very complex field of healthcare. Visitors and app users are encouraged to provide feedback of their experiences (anonymously, of course), to inform how the apps can be improved and to encourage new users that successful outcomes are within reach.
Just a few examples of the feedback that users leave on the website include:
This app saves lives. It is a beautiful tool. Thank you endlessly.
I don't know if this message will ever be read, but thank you guys so, so much for the app. It's gotten me through more than I could've imagined. I adore the app in the most abstract way one could love a stranger's creation possible. Thank you guys for saving lives.
best app I have ever downloaded
Absolutely loving this app. A game changer for mental health
Hello Harry, I started using this app today when I saw your video and it already helped me so much, I got out of my bed and actually did something. There is something so satisfying about clicking that completed button that feels so good. Thank you so much for recommending it.
In addition, the website also includes information and resources for parents, friends and health professionals who are impacted and have a role to play in helping to improve a young person’s mental health, and acts as a useful guide for the professionals working in mental health. One of stem4’s apps, Combined Minds, is also for parents, carers and friends who are supporting a young person’s mental health.
At the Brothers Trust, we are most keen to support charities with a big output and often such results are only achieved because precious funds are dedicated to causes with little left to spend on their promotion.
It was with promotion in mind that we first became involved with stem4 to heighten their presence, so that more young people might become aware of them and be able to access their vital resources. You might recall our Brothers Trust Tea Lights with soothing lavender, which was conceived to generate publicity for stem4, as well as some limited funds.
However, on becoming more familiar with stem4 and their work, we have also made a financial grant, specifically funding the expansion of their Head Ed project—a digital secondary school education programme to support the teaching of mental health. It is a programme which is making significant breakthroughs and, unsurprisingly, stem4 has been embraced by education and health professionals who recognise the ongoing crisis and see the benefits that stem4 provides.
stem4's Youth Mental Health Day is scheduled for 19th September, and is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the issues affecting so many young people. This year’s theme is #ConnectMeaningfully and will focus on the importance of building and maintaining meaningful connections and relationship. stem4 national survey findings in fact highlight the fact that 44% of young people feel their friendships have been impacted by the pandemic. The advent of social media, the internet and technology more generally has taken everyone unawares. Undoubtedly, it is a force for good, giving everyone a voice and a chance to be heard but equally, we are all well aware of its harmful implications and unintended consequences: cyber bullying, trolling, loneliness, cancelling…all of which are difficult to counter.
And whilst the internet is commonly blamed for many ills, it is also being harnessed for good by charities like stem4 and with great results. A provision completely FREE for users worldwide to recognise that they are not alone, to learn from others before them and to utilise the help and resources that are now available at the click of a mouse.
Website: stem4.org.uk
Instagram: @stem4org
Twitter: @stem4org
Facebook: @stem4
LinkedIn: @stem4
TikTok: @stem4org