Jade | Youth Panel | YoungMinds

Jade's values

A group of young people sit around a table talking to each other. The person closest to the camera as the back to the camera and wears a dark red knitted jumper.

Why are you on the Youth Panel at YoungMinds?

I didn’t feel like I had the right support while struggling with my mental health growing up. I want to support a charity that is already doing the work to support young people. I believe my experiences will help contribute to the charities mission to make sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.

Which of our values do you relate to most, and why do you think it’s an important value for us?

The value I relate the most to is: 'we celebrate what makes you, you.'

"Whoever you are, we welcome you and encourage you to always be true to yourself.”

Being yourself is the most important thing you could do, as it can help set you free from the boxes you put yourself in to fit in. Even I’m still learning to not feel ashamed of who I am and live authentically as myself. We are not the same, we are all different and we shouldn’t feel ashamed of who we are. It’s important at YoungMinds that we welcome people from all different backgrounds to make sure all young people get the support they need.

About Jade

We celebrate what makes you, you. What three words describes you best?

Optimistic
Friendly
Curious

YoungMinds staff all wearing yellow for #HelloYellow 2023, posing with their hands in the air.

What do you do to switch off and take care of your mental health?

I switch off by walking in nature, cooking, spending time with friends and family or listening to an audiobook.

About our Youth Panel

Our Youth Panel works with us for three years to help shape our future as a charity and achieve our mission. They talk about things like strategy, safeguarding, fundraising, organisational culture, risk management, data protection, brand and marketing.

Our current Youth Panel joined us in October 2023.