Improving young people's mental health

Last week we launched a website for the local NHS trust called Epic Friends to help young people understand their friends with mental health problems and support each other.

We're delighted that it's causing a bit of a stir. In the first week it's already clocked up 3,500 unique visitors and was profiled by the BBC.

Its success comes as a bit of a surprise, to be honest, as it's only a simple content managed site. Having said that, we put a lot of thought into the strategy and design – making sure that it doesn't patronise young people but is culturally relevant and clinically correct (we worked with consultant clinical psychologists). A key objective was also to make sure the site is 'spreadable' - for example the Facebook quiz encourages people to share the results of what type of friend they are. In the first week alone, 288 young people have taken the quiz on Facebook and shared it with 1,224 friends. 

Here's a snapshot of some of the feedback that's been posted to the website in the last few days:

"I think the site is fantastic. Thank you so much for all of your hard work in putting this together in such an accessible way. I have suggested my teenage daughter look through it and tell all her mates on Facebook. The more people talk about mental health the better! Well done"

"This site is amazing - it's really easy to use and navigate, and the information provided is really helpful... for example, I'm currently dealing with a friend with what me and some others suspect is an eating disorder, so now I know what to say to her and how to handle it - and I know what I'll be doing if the situation gets any worse. It's a really great service that is being provided here and I'll certainly use it if I have any further need in the future... things like this are important milestones in overcoming a problem and I think you've done a great job! :D"

"Its brilliant - I am a nurse who also goes into school to assist with PHSE - I shall be recommending this site to all the young people I come into contact with"

"this website is amazing! i wish that there was an equivalnt where i live! i think it would have helped me get through my depression and eating disorders and also help my friends understand what was going on and not to be too different around me! thanyou for making this x"

Recent research suggests that 12% of secondary pupils in Sheffield  say they feel very sad or depressed most days. Let's hope this website can start to address that.

Related links
epicfriends.co.uk