Understanding teens' mental health and wellbeing

Mental health champion to give free talk to north London parents

One of the UK’s best-known mental health campaigners will give a free talk to north London parents next month (10 May).

Jonny Benjamin, who attempted suicide eight years ago after being diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, will share his experience of living with mental illness.

The free event, hosted by North Bridge House Senior and Sixth Form Canonbury, will address the mental and emotional wellbeing of adolescents and how parents can help identify and address such issues.

The producer of the film, The Stranger on the Bridge, which documents Benjamin’s emotional reunion with the man who stopped him from taking his own life, will discuss his new initiative, ThinkWell. The initiative aims to educate young people about mental health and break down the stigma associated with mental illness through school workshops run by a qualified therapist and trained workshop leader.

Benjamin, who met with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to discuss suicide prevention earlier this year, argues that more should be done to raise mental health awareness in schools given that over 75 percent of mental illnesses begin in adolescence.

“My passion has always been young people, mainly because of what I went through when I was younger”, says Benjamin. “Teaching pupils about mental health should be a compulsory part of the curriculum, just as physical education is. We’re taught how to look after our bodies, but surely it’s just as important to learn how to look after our minds.”

Jonny Benjamin joins a host of other high-profile speakers, including sleep expert, Dr Paul Kelly and teenage brain expert, Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who have also given talks at North Bridge House discussing adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing.

“With close connections to key policymakers in the mental health sector, Jonny Benjamin’s work has important implications for the curriculum set in schools” adds Jonathan Taylor, head teacher at North Bridge House Senior School and Sixth Form Canonbury. “We are always keen to learn how we can improve the pastoral care that we provide for our students.

"What’s more, Jonny's talk will build on the themes addressed by our previous visiting speakers.” Mr Taylor concluded, “Attempting to fully understand our students is key to better serving their needs.”

Tickets are free but registration is required book via website

North Bridge House is a group of five independent co-educational schools in North London, nurturing confidence and academic success in pupils - from nursery to sixth form.