Celebrities and influencers call for early support hubs

Topic: mental health support, #FundTheHubs

Celebrities and young people talking to the camera asking you to join them in adding your name to the open letter.

Television personality and influencer Chloe Burrows, broadcaster Sean Fletcher, R&B group FLO, Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George, comedian Rosie Jones, musician Mabel and influencer Evie Meg have signed a letter to the Government, calling for investment in early mental health support hubs.

The letter, written by young people who have experience of struggling with their mental health, urges the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt to invest in early mental health support hubs in every community in his Spring Budget. Early support hubs provide a space for young people to get help for their mental health before things escalate. They can go there without an appointment or a referral and talk to someone about their mental health.

A mixed group of six young people standing in front of a black metal fence in a park playground.

The celebrities and influencers who signed the letter will be sharing a video message to the Chancellor on social media today (31 January), addressing him directly to change the experiences of young people trying to get support for their mental health.

The call for investment has also been backed by youth charities across the sector, including members of the Fund The Hubs coalition, who have signed the letter.

Recent NHS data showed that almost 1 in 4 (22%) of 17–24 year olds has a probable mental health condition¹. For many, the wait for help lasts months and, in some cases, years. Hubs would ease the pressure on the NHS and stop many young people reaching crisis.

Hubs already play a vital role in some communities.

This letter calls for a full roll-out across the country to help end the mental health support postcode lottery that so many young people face.

Read the letter

I hear every day how hard it is for young people to access support for their mental health. With more young people than ever in the mental system, we need early support hubs to ease the pressure on the NHS and prevent more young people from reaching crisis. It’s great that the Government have committed to fund a pilot of hubs already. A further commitment for a national roll-out will make an enormous difference and ensure that every young person can access early support for their mental health.

Dr Alex George, Youth Mental Health Ambassador
As young people we’re being pushed to breaking point because of a broken mental health system that is crying out for help. For many, problems escalate before they can access support and long waits for help make things worse. Early support hubs can help change this. Young people can access help earlier, which can prevent us becoming more unwell. Hubs already exist in some communities, but we need a full roll-out across the country so that all young people can access mental health support when they need it.

Paddy, YoungMinds Activist

The charity is urging people to add their names to the letter before they hand it into the Chancellor ahead of the Spring Budget.

Add your name

For more information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the YoungMinds press office on 0203 861 2072 or email press@youngminds.org.uk

[1] NHS Digital, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England