A local band from Worcestershire have launched a music video, following the release of a new song about their own experiences with mental health
Split Second are made up of 15 and 16-year-olds from across the county who have teamed up with the Trust who are the main provider of mental health services across both counties.
The song, Reach Out, encourages young people to talk if they are struggling with their mental health, or know someone who is, and to access to help and support available.
To view more from the band click their Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/officialsplitsecond
Ways young people can get involved
Mental health ambassadors
Are you a mental health ambassador within your school? Email meagan.walker@nhs.net to receive your free wristbands and promotional posters to help young people like you know they can ‘reach out’ to those wearing one.
Volunteer
Whether you'd like to give up some of your time and become a Youth Board member, to help recruit the right people for the right jobs, or just leave us some feedback there are lots of ways for you to take part within the Trust. With your help we can improve our services and make sure we are getting it right. Visit the get involved website for more information.
Professional information
If you work with children, young people and/or their families please visit the Reach Out professionals information page for the latest ways that you can get involved.
Community venues
11 different free family-friendly art inspired posters were created by local artists to encourage young people to ‘reach out’ for support. Each poster represents the theme of communities, connectiveness, support and diversity that have been produced in partnership with Artists Clubhouse. You can access the digital versions of the poster below to be used at any time on your own channels.
Downloadable resources:
Reach Out Community Posters social media assets.docx [docx] 11MB
Reach Out artists posters_for website.pdf [pdf] 16MB
More information about the campaign
'Reach Out’ music events help to promote mental health support
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has teamed up with local band to promote mental health support for young people at a series of live busking events across the two counties.
Split Second, the Bromsgrove based band of 15–16-year-olds have written a new song, called ‘Reach Out’, about the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. It’s core message is to encourage other young people to open up and talk if they are struggling too.
They have been performing the song, alongside their other music, at events throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire over the last week. Staff from the Health and Care NHS Trust, which provides mental health care to local children and adults, have been on hand at the events to share information about local support.
Levi Husbands, who wrote Reach Out and is a Guitarist in Split Second said: “Lockdown had a big impact on my own mental health which led me to the NHS and the writing of this song. We hope anyone who hears the track is encouraged to ‘reach out’. You are not on your own and there are people and organisations out there who can help.”
One in six children aged five to 16 identified as having a probable mental health problem in July 2021, that’s five children in every classroom.
Trudy Neal, Participation and engagement Worker at the Health and Care NHS Trust said: “The music events were attended by staff from the Trust and from several local organisations and it was a great way to share information about the help which is available to any child or young person who might be unsure where to go to talk to someone. Our hope is that the video will be used in schools and colleges to show young people where they can go to get some help."
“This was driven by the work of young people on the Trust’s Youth Board, a group of 14–24-year-olds who volunteer in the NHS. They provide a voice for young people and wanted to reach out to their peers in an innovative and accessible way.”
A video to accompany Reach Out is also being produced and will be shared across local radio and online.
Hendrik Harms, Director at Harms Way said: “It is great to be able to work on a film for such a good cause. I hope the official music video, which will be launched 6 October this year, will help people to talk to someone about how they feel.”
The Health and Care NHS Trust has also released new information posters which describe the range of mental health support available to children, teenagers and parents/carers. The information posters can be downloaded here.
You can also search ‘officialsplitsecond’ on Facebook and Instagram to listen to more from the band.
