The Mind Map will provide mental health and media workshops for young people, starting with the delivery of a six-week media programme to the Merseyside Youth Association’s mental health group

Everton and England footballer Leighton Baines has helped launch a new mental health social enterprise – The Mind Map – in Liverpool.

An audience gathered at Unit 51, in Liverpool to watch Leighton in conversation with BBC sports journalist Giulia Bould, discussing mental health in football’.

Founded by editor and mental health first aider Phil Bridges, The Mind Map is an interactive website with articles, videos, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition resources, which seek to normalise and de-stigmatise mental health and help young people navigate towards mental health services.

The Mind Map will also provide mental health and media workshops for young people, starting with the delivery of a six-week media programme to the Merseyside Youth Association’s mental health group in April.

Phil said: “I have spent the past year developing The Mind Map with clinical input from Liverpool CCG and Mersey Care, plus young people at Merseyside Youth Association. The result is an engaging online wellbeing resource I’d liked to have given to my younger self.

“Our in-conversation with Leighton Baines is typical of the work our social enterprise will deliver – working with popular artistic and sporting talent to further vital discussions about mental health.”

Keen to deepen understanding of their demographic, The Mind Map is also working on a research project with Liverpool John Moores University into the perceptions and experiences of non-clinical mental health support currently available for UK students.

The Mind Map runs mental health first aid courses for staff. MHFA courses teach people to spot the signs of mental health issues, offer initial help and guide a person towards support. 

Contact The Mind Map at info@themindmap.co.uk or for more information click here.