Joe's Buddy Line

Joe’s Buddy Line is a small, relatively new (we were created in 2021) rapidly growing mental health charity. Working in educational and community settings to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and others in the school family; from primary school to University.  We envision a society where mental and physical health receive equal importance, and where every young person feels confident, resilient, and able to ask for mental health help. Our mission is to provide accessible and empowering mental health and wellness support to young people and their communities. Through education, resources, and advocacy, we will create environments where mental health conversations are open, accepting and stigma-free During this time the organisation has begun to understand the areas of most need of intervention and this has assisted the organisation begin its journey of strategic focus to better collaborate, empower and build trust to enable the young people and their communities self-manage their mental health with an integrated and supportive network behind them. One in four teenagers aged 17-19 have a mental health difficulty, an increase from one in six in 2021. In 2022: An average of 18% of 7-16 year olds and 22% of 17-24 year olds had a diagnosed mental health difficulty In Females: 7-10 year olds, 11% of girls report to have mental health difficulty  In 17-24 year olds 31% of young women report to have mental health difficulty In Males: In 7-10 year olds  the prevalence of a probable mental disorder was nearly twice as high as females at 19.7% In 17 - 24 year olds only 13% of young men report having a mental health difficulty. Of children with a mental health difficulty; nearly 13% of 11-16 year olds with mental health difficulties missed more than 15 days of school and 61% of 11-16 year olds with a mental health difficulty felt safe within school and felt they had a friend to turn to for support.  (Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 - wave 3 follow up to the 2017 survey)   Statutory Support It is estimated that less than 1% of NHS funds is spent on young people’s mental health services   In 2023 the government committed to provide Mental Health Support Teams in only 36% of schools in the UK. (Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Implementation Programme - Department of Education May 2023)