HOW WE WORK
ABOUT
US
1
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS
The primary focus of BRIT is to collaborate with mental health charities and partner organisations in order to engage and support the HE and FE Sector so that we can help others, create wider engagement and deliver greater understanding of mental health issues, adversity, psychological trauma and wellbeing.
2
SPONSORS & GIFTED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Our ethos is to operate with minimal overheads and operational costs. We rely on gifted support from partner organisations and volunteers. Corporations and philanthropists who understand our ethos provide gifted professional services or fund our operational costs. This support enables our BRIT Challenges to have the greatest possible impact.
3
LEADERSHIP AND EXPERT
SUPPORT
The strengths of our vision, strategy and UK-wide BRIT Challenges to support young adult mental health are shaped and underpinned through the gifted support of
senior advisors, charity partners, business leaders, philanthropists and inspirational
figures.
Our vision is to unite Sport and Education Governing Bodies, Institutions, Businesses, Philanthropists and Inspirational Figures through a collectively powerful approach to support young adult mental health.
82,000*
In 2018/9, 82,000 students in UK universities reported that they had a mental health problem.
*Higher Education Statistics Agency.
21.5%*
21.5% of students have a current mental health diagnosis.
*University Student Mental Health Survey 2018.
33.9%*
33.9% of students have experienced a serious psychological issue for which they felt they needed professional help.
*University Student
Mental Health Survey
2018.
95*
There were 95 suicides among higher education students in England and Wales between July 2016 and July 2017.
*Office for
National Statistics.
NEED FOR ACTION
Addressing and improving mental health, fitness and wellbeing is a priority throughout the UK. By ensuring mental health is treated as a societal concern, we can encourage early intervention and action.
We passionately believe in the power of collaboration to deliver more effectively and maximise impact. We need to bring organisations together, through a collectively powerful approach, and intervene early at a critical transition point in young people’s lives to avoid long-term risks. If we do not, there will be far-reaching consequences for the next generation.
The challenges experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly compound the current mental health difficulties experienced by young adults and the wider community.
We need to act now, together, to ensure our mental health charity partners can deliver the support required to young adults at this critical time.
"Providing appropriate and timely support to young adults suffering from mental health issues is vital and I am encouraged to see BRIT working in partnership with charities operating in this area.
BRIT is driving forward a positive and collaboration approach by acting as a conduit charity and engaging with organisations and institutions across the education, sport and charity sectors.
This is most definitely a time when we should be working together and BRIT's annual UK-wide challenges can have a considerable impact on improving young adult mental health if every UK university and college embraces them and encourages participation.
BRIT are working tirelessly to invite university and college leadership teams, and student populations, to participate in their UK-wide mental health and fitness challenges.
I hope that all universities and colleges in the UK will both champion and take part in this engaging, inclusive and exciting BRIT 2021 Challenge to increase self-resilience, improve mental health and raise vital funds for charities who support their young adults."
Professor Sir Simon Wessely MA BM BCh MSc MD FRCP FRCPSych FMedSci FKC
President of the Royal Society of Medicine (2017-2020)
President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Chair of the government’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act
Member of the World Health Organisation work group for stress-related disorders
EVIDENCE
We know Mental Health affects relationships, wellbeing and determines how students learn, and their productivity. It can make them feel that they have little to offer other people and erode self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence.
It is recognised that transitions increase vulnerability to mental health difficulties.
Many who experience depression, anxiety and mental health difficulties can isolate themselves from friends and family, and mental health can be particularly isolating for people with disabilities.
Despite the surge in the numbers of students asking for support, it is likely that there are many others in clinical need who are not seeking treatment because of stigma or problems with access to care.
The wider crisis in young adult mental health is reflected in our universities with students dropping out with mental health problems and, tragically, an increase in student suicides
"I founded BRIT to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK with the advice and guidance from over 50 Charity Chief Executives and the tremendous support from inspirational high profile figures. To reduce high overheads and administrative costs, BRIT does not employ staff and relies on voluntary support, gifted professional services, donations and sponsorship. Inspirational Ambassadors and Advisors continue to champion our work and whilst this strengthens our UK-wide impact, corporate support and sponsorship enables our work to continue.
In recent years there has been a significant increase in young adult mental health difficulties which are being compounded by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. If there was ever a time for charities, governing bodies, institutions, businesses and philanthropists to collaborate, it is now.
I believe that to successfully improve the mental health and fitness of young adults throughout the UK at a critical time in their lives, we have to take a collectively powerful approach. We are doing this through the delivery of inspirational UK-wide events at every university and college, to both improve young adult mental health and raise vital funds. This requires support from across the Education, Sport and Charity sectors and I am thrilled that this support is growing."
Phil Packer
Founder and Non-Paid Chief Executive
The British Inspiration Trust (BRIT)
This collaborative strategy enables our delivery of events to improve young adult mental health and fitness, all whilst supporting our partner mental health charities in providing vital mental health services to all young adults in the UK who need their support.