There are over 2.8 million children and young people living in London. The past couple of years has been especially difficult for them and many have suffered from mental health. Last week, three groups of young people launched their manifesto and action plan at the Houses of Parliament: A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds.
How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered, and funded?
This is the question that young people from Haringey and Tower Hamlets, together with consultations with the cultural and health sectors were addressing over the last 6 months. Thriving through Culture an action research project with Thrive LDN, funded in partnership by Baring Foundation, leapt centre stage.
“There is no point trying to fix individuals in a broken and violent system” Naomi
Hosted by Helen Hayes MP, Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years the young people began the event with a dedication of one second to every young person in London counting down from 32 days 9 hours 46 min 38 seconds.
The three groups imagined the creation of four new ways of working and what it could be like to create:
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A Committee for 2.8 million minds; a monthly creative space for young people to become leaders in mental health
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2.8 million artist studios; create a new model of a studio space that supports young people struggling with mental health
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A sharing of 2.8 million minds; a biennial festival for young people
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Healing 2.8 million minds; through training, policy, strategy and advocacy to help advise and imagine simpler pathways for young people to access mental health services, art spaces and more.
25 young people worked with artists Tyreis Holder, Yomi Şode, Simon Tomlinson and Becky Warnock to produce manifestos which were presented to the group of opinion formers, directors of arts institutions, members of parliament, funders, friends and family. Activism, graffiti, poetry and garments unfolded over the next hour reimagining how mental health can be cared for and funded. This was supported by Manifesto leads Tara Brown, Seth Pimlott, Nicola Sim and the vacuum cleaner as well as organisations Bernie Grant Arts Centre and Chisenhale Gallery.
“More Art, More Action” OOST Collective
“Art will catch you” Tyreis Holder (all images Sam Nightingale)
The 2.8 Million Minds Action Plan will launch as part of The Mayor of London’s Flagship D/deaf, disabled arts festival, Liberty. The project will also feature on the 10th of October as part of the Mayor’s World Mental Health Day Festival. You can attend Liberty festival on the 23 July in Lewisham.
Read the Manifesto by downloading it below.
I wonder who cares for you?
If adults are truly there for you?
Or are they just there to share unfair views,
to know it all,
to tell you what not to and to do?
Curfew the days of not listening,
to blossoming buds of future flowers.
Empowering the leaves that have fallen in Autumn,
to spring sprouts with those lessons we’ve taught them.
So, what are your needs?
Well, I want it to be known
that you put things in place to make me feel safe
but those same safeties lock me into a jamming spree.
Telling me you’ll provide protection
but leaving me with metal reflections,
asking why you hid the key?
Do you even know how it feels?
Once my age but so far from that experience
you fold feelings down to ‘not a big deal’.
When Global warming and environmental damage
is actually very scary, sincerely
the people who will actually see it: Gen Z.
I notice I’m treated as a villain in a book
I did not write because I look and think differently.
I feel fat and I hate that.
I can dot my spots on my face and back,
school only teaches me why I hate it.
My eyes sweating salt water
followed by sniggered laughter
I can’t just erase that.
I’m sensitive.
I’m sensitive.
And I know that you know that I am,
but do you know that I know that you know that I am?
Exhausted by executive emotions and you daisy dancing,
showering me in kindness when I am no highness,
just a human who weeps low sometimes
but wants to be watered
just like all the other plants in the garden.
Forget me not.
I still require attention
which you’ll know how to give if you just
L I S T E N.
That the walls of the world break my brains boundaries.
That I don’t feel proud of me.
That the world I live in tells me to sit on nails
when I was sitting comfortably.
The thoughts and thinking that live deep inside of me
confiscates my letters and physicality,
but connecting with art
brings out a new language in me.
I want to let you know that I hear you completely,
I hear you completely.
I hear you.
There is not much difference between me and you,
I do what I do to be the person I once needed.
As the world let go of me swiftly,
art and poetry were the only things to catch me.
To bring out the power in me
when silence was my unwanted saviour.
It helped remind me of joy.
My power comes out when I get a choice,
when I get to be me,
when I relax,
when I understand
when the microphone is in my hand
and the stage is my oyster,
when music hums in my ears.
When I have the opportunity to explore myself
through processes that are new to me.
I feel powerful.
Being in a space that lets me create endlessly,
a phenomenon sense
that lets me sift self systems.
Tame off beat rhythms of government shame,
an elegance with no name…
I wonder who cares for you?