Last week, our youth workers hosted a vibrant and engaging stall at Wakefield and Castleford college, alongside other local services that offer support and resources to young people across the Wakefield area.
Over two days, we had powerful conversations about mental health and wellbeing with more than 100 students from across the campuses.
One of the highlights was our balloon activity, which was a hit with students. Each balloon was a metaphor for mental wellbeing. We asked the students to share common things that stress them out like college work and family arguments, and we inflated the balloon to represent rising pressure. Many students noticed how close the balloon was to bursting, a visual cue to introduce coping strategies. Students then shared their own ways to destress, including spending time with friends, getting good sleep, and enjoying comforting food. The activity helped reinforce the importance of making time for things that bring joy and balance, rather than letting stress build up.
We also ran an interactive activity for Self-Care September, inviting students to fill in a blank September calendar with daily self-care actions. Responses ranged from “walking the dog” and “skincare routines” to “gym sessions” and “movie nights.” This exercise highlighted the variety of self-care practices and reminded students that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to looking after mental health.
Throughout the day, we handed out flyers for our Future SELPH programme, a free mental health programme held at The Youth Association that students can sign up for to continue exploring wellbeing strategies and accessing support.
It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with young people, share resources, and promote positive mental health in a fun and accessible way. If you want to find out more about the Future SELPH programme, head to the Mental Health section on our website.
