18/02/2020
Support for young people.
The Lee Cooper Foundation is a mental health foundation created by young people, for young people. We were created after our best friend Lee died by su***de on the 22nd of February 2018. When Lee died, we became aware of the insufficient support for young people in Knowsley. There are huge gaps, and endless waiting lists which are taking the lives of our loved ones.
The media has recently shown that mental health illnesses and su***de do not discriminate, and people of all demographic backgrounds can be affected. Each year, 800,000 are affected by su***de. It is easy to ignore the overwhelmingly huge statistic, but each individual taken by su***de had more to experience. Lee had an extremely bright future, whether that was in law or teaching - we didn't get to find out which. Lee had his 18th, 21st, 50th birthday to celebrate, his driving test to pass, he had concerts and parties to attend, weddings to look forwards to - including his own one day. There are so many new songs, tv programmes, restaurants, flavoured coffees and days out which he isn't here to experience with us. Su***de makes it impossible to experience the smaller things which make the dark days a little bit brighter.
Since February 2019, we have provided free and accessible mental health support to young people aged 13-19 through our 'sChat drop in sessions, which are held at 6pm every Monday night at Lord Derby Academy, Seel Road, L36 6DG. As well as our 'sChat drop in sessions, if you have any issues or worries you would like to talk about, then we can be contacted on any of our social media (see below). Encourage your young people to use our FREE services, it will be scary at first, but it will be one of the best things they have ever done. For more information about our 'sChat drop in sessions message us or visit our website.
We urge you to get in contact with us if you are struggling, no matter how small you feel your problems are - you deserve the opportunity to unload and seek support. If you do not feel comfortable reaching out to us, please confide in a close friend/relative. It is 100% easier said than done, but although having the first conversation is the hardest step, it is definitely the most beneficial. We need to continue encouraging people to talk, to reach out for support - but we also need to ensure that that support is there when it is asked for... and we are here.
Social Media:
Website: www.theleecooperfoundation.co.uk
Facebook: The Lee Cooper Foundation
Twitter:
Instagram:
Email: [email protected]
Other useful organisations:
Hub of Hope: www.chasingthestigma.co.uk
Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Su***de: www.papyrus-uk.org
YoungMinds: www.youngminds.org.uk
Sean's Place: www.seansplace.org.uk
Flourish&Succeed CIC: www.flourishandsucceed.co.uk
The Hive: contact Flourish and Succeed
Malit in the Community: www.malitcommunitylearning.com
Sunshine Yoga: www.littlesunshineyoga.co.uk
Lime Therapies: see Lime Therapies
Comics Youth: www.comicsyouth.co.uk
Ypas Liverpool: www.ypas.org.uk
TEDS: www.tedsuk.com
MIND: www.mind.org.uk
The Yoga Loft
Knowsley Parent Carers Voice
