Results day advice will be hosted on CALM and The Mix‘s Instagrams as the first instalment in the #GramFam project
With A-Level results day, another batch of students will soon enter higher education at universities up and down the country.
It is a time of huge excitement for young people. The beginning of university marks a milestone in your life; the passing of a threshold into adulthood. But it can also be a time of huge emotional stress, as you leave home for the first time and are distanced from support networks you may have relied on for much of your life.
It is no surprise then that some students experience mental illness during uni. As many as one in four students say they have experienced mental health problems over the course of their studies and, as we have previously reported, between 2007 and 2015 the number of student suicides in the UK increased by 79 per cent, from 75 to 134.
In the face of the ever present issue of young people’s mental health, the charities The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and The Mix are teaming up with social media influencers and well known faces, including Reggie Yates, for a new Instagram zine series. The first will be released to coincide with results day, with more planned at key milestones in the academic year.
Around results day, CALM (@calmzone) and The Mix (@themixuk) will publish a host of content from different influencers on Instagram, including inspiring videos and messages, life advice, and handy tips on how to manage on the day if things don’t quite go to plan.
Documentary maker Reggie Yates, Love Island‘s Dr Alex George and The Vamps’ James McVey are involved in the project. As well as Ruby Granger, Hussain Manawer, Neev Spencer,Molly Fleming, Eve Bennett, Jade Bowler and Jack Rooke.
The launch of the zine comes as many students are already turning to Instagram to find communities of support as they deal with the struggles of higher education, from #studygrammers offering tips and advice for revision, to positivity trends such as #acneisnormal.
The #GramFam hashtag, which will be used around the Instazine, encourages young people to join in conversations around mental health and to ask for help when they need support and motivation.
Simon Gunning, CEO of the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with The Mix on #GramFam. We know that there are many pressures on students and young people so we hope that, with the help of some familiar Instagram faces, we can create a positive experience that entertains while also offering support to those who may be facing tough moments such as exams and results stress.”
Chris Martin, CEO at The Mix says: “For many young people, being a student is an exciting experience, but they can also face lots of challenges especially around exam results period. Sadly, we have seen a shocking rise among students reporting poor mental health where such challenges become an overwhelming source of anxiety and sometimes even suicidal thoughts.
“The Mix is excited to be working with CALM to create #GramFam on Instagram. We want to bring together students, influencers and experts to create a positive community that works together to promote good mental health ,whatever a young person is facing.”
If you’re experiencing mental health problems, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) provides a free, confidential helpline (0800 58 58 58), and webchat open every day from 5pm – midnight.
