Our Why and How
The Problem: Teenage Boys in Crisis
- Nationally, 1 in 5 children aged 8–25 years now have a probable mental health condition, a sharp rise since 2017
- Self-harm is common: nearly 37% of 17–24‑year‑olds have self-harmed at some point, and around 1 in 5 boys aged 13–16 report self-harm in the past year
- Roughly 40,000 under‑18s are admitted to hospital annually in England for mental health crises, a 65% rise in a decade
Cornwall & the Southwest: A Local Emergency
- Mental health referrals for children in Cornwall have soared by 157% since 2019, reaching over 11,600 in 2023, driven by anxiety, self-harm, depression, eating disorders, and PTSD
- Over 1,700 under‑18s in Cornwall waited over a year for NHS mental health support; some waited more than two years
- A Healthwatch Cornwall report (April 2025) describes “critical gaps in crisis support, long waiting times, and rural isolation”
In Summary
- The mental health crisis among boys is worsening—nationally and painfully locally in Cornwall.
- Early, peer‑grounded intervention works better for many lads than traditional counselling alone.
- Our programme fits smoothly into existing school structures, enhancing—not conflicting—with staff roles.
- We support the whole triangle—school, student, and parent—with careful design, measurement, and follow-through.
- Finally, we foster a community of ongoing growth with alumni networks and referrals.