Derby College Group students go yellow for youth mental health

Credit: DCG

Students at Derby College Group’s Joseph Wright Centre shared more than 80 messages of hope and encouragement as they marked World Mental Health Day with a Hello Yellow celebration in support of the national charity Young Minds.

Young Minds supports children and young people’s mental health across the UK, and Hello Yellow is its annual campaign to mark World Mental Health Day, encouraging young people to wear yellow and show they are not alone with their mental health.

The lunchtime event, organised by the college’s Pastoral team, invited students to write positive quotes and words of support for their fellow students. These will now be displayed in the Student Experience Hub, where students can see and reflect on them throughout the academic year.

Over 100 sweet treats were handed out to raise awareness of the charity and its campaign. Books and other wellbeing resources were also available, and students shared supportive tips and advice with one another.

Students, staff and the wider college community also dug deep to raise money for Young Minds. The fundraising matters because demand for mental health support among young people has never been higher, with NHS England figures suggesting around one in five young people aged 8 to 25 has a probable mental health condition.

Money raised helps Young Minds run its free parents helpline, provide resources for schools and colleges, and campaign for young people to get the right support at the right time. For many students, events like Hello Yellow are also a chance to see that mental health is something everyone can talk about openly, without stigma.

Sarah Hunt, Student Experience and Pastoral Coach at Derby College Group, said: “It was wonderful to see so many students getting involved and being so open about mental health. Writing a positive message might seem like a small thing, but it sparked some really meaningful conversations, and it reminds everyone that support is there whenever they need it.

“Our students and staff gave their time, their kind words and their money to support Young Minds, and I’m so proud of the way everyone came together. Having those messages on display in the Student Experience Hub means the positivity from the day will stay with our students all year round.”