Students from both Coulsdon and Croydon have been selected and given an introductory training to become Mental Health Ambassadors in their colleges.

The aim is to increase awareness about the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and knowledge among students about support, the importance of early help and College campaigns and events.

It is hoped having young people in these positions will help students access support at an earlier stage, through informal peer to peer contact, reduce the stigma about mental health difficulties, and keep young people’s views central to College policy and decisions about mental health.

The ambassadors will be clearly identifiable, and present at key events throughout the College year. They will receive ongoing training and support from their College Student Services team and mental health professionals from the NHS Trailblazer project.

The Coulsdon Mental Health Ambassadors are Kioni Meseorisa, Ellie-Mai Adams, Lauren Veitch, Georgia Lalande, Abdullahi Ibrahim and Samantha Brown, and the Croydon Mental Health Ambassadors include Saffie Gillen, Amanda Kelly and Zareena Motala.