The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

• Equip young people to look after their mental wellbeing.

• Help people to recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others so that they know when to seek help.

• Ensure expert and evidence based help is available when people need it.

How does your organisation contribute to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it?

We meet our aims by:

• Delivering talks to young people.

• Through our Students Against Depression website – www.studentsagainstdepression.org.

• Training teachers and other professionals to identify and support those with depression.

• Supporting research and teaching in evidence-based therapies at the Charlie Waller Institute at the University of Reading.

What are your current priorities?

Improve Resilience and Emotional Wellbeing in Schools

Our focus is on prevention of mental ill health and the risk of suicide that this can bring by focusing on training in schools and other youth settings to raise awareness, encourage discussion and for people to have access to appropriate help when they need it.

Developing new resources

The Trust intends to develop new resources, including a Model Policy for Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Schools, and a guide on self harm.

Improve our Students Against Depression website

We will continue to improve our Students Against Depression website as an effective and interactive self-help resource.  In partnership with counselling and mental health services in universities we will develop training for staff, to support them in providing an early response to students who are beginning to suffer from mental health problems.

What challenges are you currently facing?

For schools, the current OFSTED inspection framework is too focused on attainment and therefore it is difficult for schools to devote time and resources to building the resilience and emotional wellbeing that may protect against suicide.