The Bupa UK Foundation and the leading mental health charity Mind, have announced they will be working together to help improve the mental health of children and young people.
The Bupa UK Foundation and Mind will help young people and their families to access the information and resources they need to live mentally healthy lives – aiming to help 2.5 million people by 2022.
With a worrying one in seven young people having a diagnosable mental health problem1 the Bupa UK Foundation is supporting Mind to develop a brand-new set of online information resources designed with, and for, children and young people aged 11-25. These are designed to be easy to understand and provide guidance on how to improve their mental health and access the support they need.
Fully funded by the Bupa UK Foundation with a grant over three years, the Mind Children and Young People Resources are in a language that speaks clearly to young people and addresses their key concerns. For example, young people often search according to feelings or incidents such as breaking up with a partner or exam stress2.
Alex Cole, Chair, Bupa UK Foundation, commented: “Mental health is just as important as physical health in helping people to feel better and stay well. Mind’s resources are written specifically for younger people in the language they use. The Bupa Foundation supports initiatives that provide meaningful and practical support for people – exactly like this. We want to help young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it.”
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: “We know that young people experiencing mental health problems for the first time may struggle to know where to go for support. That’s why we are so thankful to Bupa for funding this information to equip young people with the tools they need to better look after their mental health.”
The Mind Children and Young People Resources are available online and will support young people to better their mental health through expert information and guidance. Resources on topics such as understanding feelings, opening up and talking to your doctor are already available to everybody at mind.org.uk/information-support/for-young-people, with more being developed over the next three-years.
People working at Bupa will also provide their support, by taking on a variety of fundraising challenges for Mind and offering their skills to provide pro-bono support to the charity.
This announcement also comes shortly after Bupa announced its Family Mental Healthline3 for parents and carers, where trained advisors and nurses provide support and advice on how to talk openly about mental health and what to do next.
Notes to editor
1 Mind, 2020.
2 According to Mind research.
3 About the Bupa Family Mental HealthLine:
The Family Mental HealthLine is available to anyone with Bupa UK private medical insurance who might be worried about a child’s emotional wellbeing, even if they don’t have cover for the child. It’s the latest initiative from Bupa to support people with mental health conditions. It recently launched extensive mental health cover for individuals and families, ensuring that more people than ever before can access the right help when they need it. The Bupa Family Mental HealthLine provides:
- A team of trained advisors and mental health nurses to listen and provide advice, guidance and support
- Signposting to online resources for additional support and guidance
- Nurse-led case management to help parents with all aspects of their child’s mental health wellbeing, including planning and co-ordinating specialist care if needed
About Bupa’s mental health cover
Designed for individuals and families, key features of the policy include:
- Extended cover with all* mental health conditions covered – Bupa covers all addictions, including drug, alcohol, and non-substance related addictions.
- No time limits – mental health conditions are complex and can recur. Bupa customers will have access to medical treatment and support if their condition comes back
- Ongoing support – those diagnosed with mental health conditions will be provided with help to manage their condition and prevent worsening symptoms. For example, if treatment involves ongoing, daily medication, they will have regular reviews to ensure they are on the most effective and appropriate treatment. If there is a clinical need, customers can have a follow-up appointment with a consultant psychiatrist
*The only exceptions are dementia and learning, behavioural and developmental conditions. Support is for all new customers and renewing customers where they have mental health cover, provided within members’ individual mental health benefit limits.
About the Bupa UK Foundation and Mind’s work
Together, by 2022 we want to help 2.5 million young people and their families access the information they need to look after their mental health.
Over three years, The Bupa UK Foundation are supporting Mind to develop a brand new set of information resources designed with and for children and young people aged 11-25 to improve their mental health.
The Bupa UK Foundation
The Bupa UK Foundation’s purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives.
We fund and provide practical tools, support and projects to tackle challenges in health and social care that have a direct impact on people's health and wellbeing.
Since 2015, the Bupa UK Foundation has awarded over £1.9 million in grants to 75 projects supporting mental wellbeing.
Together with Mind, by 2022 we want to help 2.5 million young people and their families access the information they need to look after their mental health.
Visit the Bupa UK Foundation for more information.
About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.
We are an international healthcare company serving over 31 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers.
We directly employ around 85,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Chile, Poland, New Zealand, Hong Kong SAR, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, the US, Middle East and Ireland. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia and India.
