Blues Ambassador

A teenager who took part in our charity partner Action for Children’s acclaimed Royal Mail-funded Blues Programme has become a ‘Blues Ambassador’ after seeing her mental health improve dramatically.

When Gabby (pictured) joined the programme over a year ago, she had recently moved schools and was studying for her A-Levels.

Gabby had been referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for therapy as she was ‘hating school and life in general.’ Action for Children provided her with additional support once she had been to the sessions provided by CAMHS.

She says she still uses most, if not all, of the techniques she learned in the Blues Programme: ‘I find thinking positively and doing fun activities especially helpful to de-stress and take my mind off things,’ she said.

More than a year on, Gabby now advocates for mental health support across UK schools. ‘Action for Children has given me so many opportunities to speak out about my experiences and make positive change,’ she added.

Thanks to Royal Mail, more than 4,900 young people like Gabby have taken part in the Blues Programme, giving them the long-term tools they need to support their mental health.

Over six weeks in schools, the Blues Programme gives students the support they need to understand how they’re feeling. It helps them to build resilience and reduces low mood, depression and anxiety. Really importantly, it gets teenagers talking.

This vital programme has already been delivered in over 135 schools. According to statistics collated by Action for Children, 76 per cent of students have improved mental health and emotional wellbeing, 80 per cent feel comfortable talking about their mental health and 98 per cent would recommend the programme to their friends.