The Big Mental Health Conversation

Overview

The Big Mental Health Conversation (BMHC) was developed in response to young people feeling unsure where to go for help and wanting a more welcoming approach.

Hosted on World Mental Health Day, BMHC is an annual event in Kent, organised by Kent County Council’s i-THRIVE and Participation Team, in collaboration with NHS Kent and Medway.

Young Leaders from Kent Youth County Council (KYCC) lead the day. BMHC brings together young people (aged 13–16), school staff, mental health services, and community partners to talk openly about mental health, share experiences, and shape future support. The day features:

• Interactive workshops
• A 34-stall marketplace
• Therapy animals
• Training for adults
• Quiet spaces, breakout rooms, outdoor areas
• A Mobiloo and accessible facilities

Mental health remains a taboo subject for many, and services can feel difficult to access. Young people often feel isolated, unsure where to go for help, and sometimes put off by services. Feedback from previous events and conversations with school staff highlighted the need for a more open, welcoming approach. BMHC is developed to tackle stigma and to help young people find the right support.

i-THRIVE in action

A new approach was inspired by the introduction of the iTHRIVE framework and a local focus on participation and prevention.
Shaped by feedback from young people, with commissioning and youth participation teams working together to secure engagement from partners, at the heart of BMHC are i-THRIVE principles:

Needs-led: Workshops, activities, and topics are shaped by young people’s feedback and input; for example,exam stress and anxiety management have been addressed through tailored sessions. Popular workshops are repeated, while less popular ones are changed.
Shared decision-making: Youth voice is central. Young people help choose the theme, design activities, and co-facilitate workshops. Roles such as photography, social media, and delivering activities are allocated to Young Leaders, who are prepared with presentation skills training and script development. Feedback is gathered via engagement games like bingo, youth-led workshops, and a ‘you said, we did’ process. BMHC has helped young people feel more confident talking about mental health, and school staff have reported students learning new strategies for managing their wellbeing.
Partnership working: Schools, mental health services, voluntary sector partners, and young people collaborate, with the marketplace providing a space for services to gather direct feedback from young people and improve their offers. As well as an opportunity for services to network with each other.
Reducing stigma: Open conversations, peer-led workshops, and creative activities normalise talking about mental health. Therapy animals and engagement games make the environment welcoming.
Accessibility: The event is inclusive, with a Mobiloo for wheelchair users, quiet spaces, and varied workshop formats.

Feedback

Feedback shows the event helps young people feel more confident discussing mental health and learn new coping strategies.
• Young leaders: “Listening to young people improves their experience of support.”
• Young people: “Helps with social skills and managing stress.”
• Services: “Young people want time, space, kindness, and to be heard.”
• School staff: Students gained new strategies, and some felt able to seek support after the event.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The event demonstrates that co-production works; when young people are listened to, the results are more relevant and impactful.
Plans include reaching even more young people, exploring new venues, and identifying gaps such as those who do not attend, including home educated young people. The event will be sustained by embedding it into the annual calendar and working with partners for ongoing support.