Our Campaign
Table of contents
About us
We are an innovative mental health charity all about giving people the tools they need to look after their mental health and support others.
We are all about prevention and early intervention.
We are for young people by young people.
The Be Free Campaign delivers mental health provisions, counselling and community wellbeing initiatives whilst campaigning for change in our mental health infrastructure.
We are disruptive, powerful and passionate.
The What?
We deliver mental health training, workshops and wellbeing activities to schools, community organisations and communities.
We don't think it's just young people who need these tools, we train teachers and parents alike!
We provide early intervention counselling to schools, where our team utilise cognitive behavioural techniques to improve young people's mental health.
We campaign for improved mental health services with a focus on early intervention and prevention because we believe prevention is better than cure.
We create resources that shake up the norm.
We have released two publications, a guide on mental health for young adults, as well as 'We Move' an exciting wellbeing journal. However, we think we learn about mental health far earlier on, we need to help people build up their emotional intelligence.
That's why we wrote 'The Night We Saved The Moon' - a children's adventure book, educating children about emotions.
The Why?
It's simple, we were born out of lived experience.
Our founder, Shantanu struggled a lot with his mental health in school. He came from a culture that highly stigmatised mental health and went to a boys' school which reinforced a toxic culture. He decided to stand up for people's mental health and created the Be Free Campaign.
We are more than a mental health charity - we are a movement for a better future
The Who
We are a young people's mental health charity and focus on young people from 11-25.
However, we are inclusive to all, whether it be a grandad wanting to learn more about mental health, or a business wanting their team to be better equipped, we are diverse and adaptive.
The Stats
In 2020
0%
of 16-24 year olds
in the UK reported feeling down, depressed or miserable for most of the day on more than 1 day in the last week.
(Source: NHS Digital, Mental Health of Adults in England 2020)
In 2022
0%
of 16-24 year oldsin the UK reported reported self-harming in the last year.
(Source: NHS Digital, Mental Health of Adults in England 2022)
Suicide
is the leading cause of death for males and females aged between 5 and 34 in the UK.
(Source: Office for National Statistics, Suicides in the UK: 2020 registrations)
1 in 9
children aged 5 to 16 had a probable mental disorder in 2017.
(Source: NHS Digital, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2021)
In 2020 and recent years, the prevalence of mental health problems in young people increased to
1 in 6
children aged 5 to 16 with a probable mental disorder.
(Source: NHS Digital, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022)
The most common mental health problems
in young people are anxiety and depression.
(Source: Mind, How Common Are Mental Health Problems?)
Young people from ethnic minority groups
are more likely to experience mental health problems than white young people.
(Source: NHS Digital, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022)
Young people who live in poverty
are also more likely to experience mental health problems.
(Source: Mental Health Foundation, Children and Young People: Statistics)
Charity Timeline
Who we've helped so far
1700+
young people received mental health education through our work.
250k+
people reached through our social media campaigns.
​
100+
teachers and faculty staff trained on mental health.
​
50+
young people received 8-week CBT therapy
Our partners, recognition and awards
