The Mental Health Foundation’s annual Mental Health Awareness Week is taking place from Monday 12th to Sunday 18th May.

This year, the event is focussed on celebrating the power and importance of community.

Martin is joining his parliamentary colleagues in helping to raise awareness about the role of community in our mental health.

It’s also important to be aware of how we interact in online communities, particularly for young people. 85% of young people in the UK who use online communities like X or TikTok every day. Nearly 7 in 10 have encountered harmful or disturbing content.

Not enough is being done in our schools to combat these harms. 10% of those aged 16-21 report receiving no education on online safety, and 58% feel what they did receive wasn’t useful enough.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“On Mental Health Awareness week this year, we must remember the important role digital communities play in young people’s lives.

“We need to ensure we are providing relevant and useful information to children in our schools about avoiding harmful content online”

For more on staying safe online and its connection to mental health, go to Online safety and mental health are more connected than ever before | Mental Health Foundation

To learn about Mental Health Awareness Week , go to Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation