MUSIC NEWS: Nothing But Thieves Launch #IAMWHOLE Mental Health Campaign At London’s BT Tower

Today marks World Mental Health Day and #IAMWHOLE, the mental health initiated by the NHS and the YMCA, have launched their hugely important 2017 campaign.

This morning campaign ambassadors Nothing But Thieves performed an intimate acoustic show at the top of London’s 360° landmark, the BT Tower and releasing an orchestral version of their album title-track Broken Machine. 

“Mental Health affects us all just as physical health,” says Nothing But Thieves frontman Conor Mason. “Just because we can’t see what’s in someone’s head doesn’t mean it’s not happening. This is something that’s been a big part of my life and has affected me and many around me. We need to change the way we talk about people experiencing mental health difficulties. It is very very real.”

#IAMWHOLE is the brainchild of the NHS and YMCA as a direct response to mental health difficulties experienced by young people throughout the UK. This year #IAMWHOLE is focused on the effects and frequency of harmful language, and what we can all do to combat this.

More Than Words, which was published today as part of the campaign, showed that 44% of those who have heard or seen negative stereotypes did so on a weekly basis, with young people coming across an average of 33 different words and terms.

Two thirds of young people who have seen or heard harmful words and negative stereotypes relating to mental health say it is simply part of everyday language, with ‘psycho’, ‘retard’ and ‘attention seeker’ being among the most commonly used words, new research from youth charity YMCA has revealed. Researchers spoke to more than 2000 11-24 year olds and found out that even though nearly 9 in 10 (88%) young people who have come across stereotypes and negative words think they should be challenged, less than half (48%) have done so. The damaging impact of harmful language is evident as more than half (55%) of yooung people who have been on the receiving end say it stops them from talking about their difficulties.

High-profile names including Ed Sheeran, James Corden, Liam Gallagher, Dermot O’Leary, Russell Kane and Rizzle Kicks’ Jordan Stephens have already lent their support to the campaign.

If you would like to get involved with the campaign you can do so by posting an #IAMWHOLE selfie on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and text ‘WHOLE’ to 70007 to donate £3 to YMCA.

For more information head to the Whole website.