TRIUMPH Network Newsletter, April 2019

Welcome to the first issue of the TRIUMPH Network newsletter. We intend
to make it a regular publication and to use it to keep you up-to-date with our network news, developments and opportunities. We will also share stories and good practice from communities across the country.

We have established the TRIUMPH Network team, and set out some of our plans for the coming 12 months. These have included the establishment of a Network Management Group (NMG), and will include a Youth Advisory Group (YAG) to help co-design and co-produce ideas generated from Network activities. This has required the production of documents such as the TRIUMPH Charters so that those involved can sign an agreement to discuss the challenges facing public youth mental health in a respectful and inclusive manner. The Network is also working towards ethical permissions to ensure our work is approved and monitored by an regulatory body. The team have also met with our colleagues at the other 7 UKRI networks, and engaged current and potential network members on social media (Twitter), through our blogs, website and now the newsletter!

We are also very keen to build our membership to make sure we have a diverse and representative group of people discussing and sharing their ideas. We currently have 150+ members, so we are very focused on promoting the network as much as possible. So if there is someone you think would be interested, please share our newsletter and social media links.

As a member, you will be able to shape the work of the TRIUMPH network and to share your views and opinions on important topics that shape youth public mental health and wellbeing. Keep an eye out for our first member event coming up later this year.

Visit the TRIUMPH Network website

Youth advisors at the heart of TRIUMPH

Young people are at the heart of the TRIUMPH Network, not just in terms of our research topics but also in the ways that we do research, demonstrated by our core approaches of co-production and co-design.

In this blog, our Research Associate Christina McMellon talks about our Youth Advisory Group (YAG) and their involvement.

Read the blog

In our communities

Young Edinburgh Action (YEA)

Young Edinburgh Action (YEA) is one of the partner organisations working with the TRIUMPH Network's Youth Advisory Group.

YEA supports young people to identify research topics, carry out pieces of action research about these topics and communicate their findings with decision makers. This process, based upon research and dialogue, seeks to ensure that young people’s participation is meaningful, sustainable and effective.

Mental health has repeatedly emerged from YEA events as an important issue for young people in Edinburgh. A group of young people from YEA have recently been working with City of Edinburgh Council's Mental Health and Wellbeing Team to develop a set of evidence-based "top tips" about how to support someone they know who is distressed. These tips have been used to create leaflets for young people, parents and teachers.

For more information email: growingconfidence@edinburgh.gov.uk

Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) 2019 takes place from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th May. This year, the Mental Health Foundation is raising awareness about body image – how we think and feel about our bodies. Body image is increasingly recognised as a factor that can negatively affect people’s self-esteem and mental health. Just last year, our national stress survey found that 47% of young people aged 18-24 had felt so stressed by body image and appearance that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Find out more and get involved

Events calendar

9th April, Seminar: Parenting for a Digital Future: preparing for the unknown, Edinburgh

25th April, Conference: Priorities for children’s mental health services in Scotland: improving access, developing the workforce and the future for policy, Central Edinburgh

May, Festival: Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

10th May, Research: Edinburgh Global Mental Health Network Research Day (10am - 3pm,) Edinburgh

21st May, Conference: Children and Young People's Mental Health in Scotland: Delivering joined-up prevention, intervention and whole community support, Edinburgh

Join the conversation

What does "public youth mental health" mean to you? Reply to this email or tweet TRIUMPH.

If you know of any good practice, research or events relevant to the TRIUMPH Network, we would love to share these on Twitter and through our regular newsletter. Let us know by emailing the team.

Phone: (+44) 0141 353 7500

Address: TRIUMPH Network,
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit,
University of Glasgow,
Top floor, 200 Renfield Street,
Glasgow G2 3AX

TRIUMPH is part of Cross-Disciplinary Mental Health Network Plus initiative supported by UK Research and Innovation.