Wigan Youth Zone offering free mental health counselling

The youth zone has teamed up with the Willow Project to launch the free service due to the toll the current situation with the novel coronavirus is taking on the wellbeing of young people.

The free sessions have also been rolled out during Children's Mental Health Week.

The service is available to Wigan and Leigh residents aged between eight and 25 who are currently struggling with their mental health.

Wigan Youth Zone (WYZ) explained the difficult position young people are currently in with all the measures in place to slow the spread of Covid-19.

WYZ's youth work manager Sikander Ali said: "Our members are facing growing levels of anxiety and depression, of worries over money, jobs, relationships, identity, health, exams, bullying, drugs, sexual identity, discrimination, body image, loneliness, eating problems, self-harm, family issues, abuse, phobias, self-esteem, bereavement, loss and many more.

"And on top of this they have the added worry of all the issues that come with a pandemic.

“If you know of a young person who is struggling with their mental health, you can now refer that young person to get free mental health support by getting in touch with Wigan Youth Zone."

Recently The Princes Trust stated that more than one in four young people felt unable to cope with life since the start of the pandemic and over half of 16-to-25-year-olds said their mental health had worsened since the start of the pandemic.

The counselling is provided by a qualified and experienced professional with many years of experience in supporting young people.

The counselling service will offer one-to-one sessions two nights a week, with participants undertaking a 12-week programme with The Willow Project.

Counselling manager at the Willow Project, Karen Little, said: "We're absolutely delighted to join with the Wigan Youth Zone and provide their counselling service. Working with a like-minded service in supporting young people with the same passion that the team at Willow Project has is fantastic.

"We will be supporting their young people who are struggling with low mental health, which is so important, especially during these unprecedented times."

The youth zone and the Willow Project are also being supported through the Mayor of Wigan's charity appeal.

Coun Steve Dawber, the borough's first citizen, said: "“We have all been living through a very challenging time and coronavirus has undoubtedly affected all of our stress and anxiety levels to some degree.

"However, the worries and pressures created by the virus have been especially challenging for children and young people. I am so pleased my two nominated charities of the year have merged together to create a campaign that benefits the wellbeing of young people.

"This collaborative service will help the young people of Wigan and Leigh to look after their mental health and provides a safe space to get support and advice from people they trust.

"Lots of great work is being undertaken across the Wigan borough, helping some of our most vulnerable. We need to act together to combat social isolation and find ways for people to connect or interact.”

The Youth Zone also runs a mentoring service funded by Children in Need where young people can have support from an older member of the community on emotional and mental health matters as well as help around life skills and hobbies.

Find out more at www.wiganyouthzone.org

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