Campus bid to avert suicide risk

A CHARITY that aims to prevent young people taking their own lives has launched an award scheme to promote positive mental health on university campuses.

The Papyrus Award for Mental Wealth initiatives offers students and staff 300 to run wellbeing campaigns, particularly during freshers' week, when new students have a high risk of emotional distress.

Ten awards are up for grabs to fund sports events, film festivals, volunteer schemes or any other ideas to encourage students to improve their mental health.

Papyrus is working with the non-profit organisation Mental Wealth UK, which will run the scheme. Submissions can be made during August and November 2010, and February 2011, and the ten awards will be spread out between these three periods.

Amy Llewellyn, Papyrus youth involvement co-ordinator, said: "Increased understanding of mental health on campus, especially when students and staff are empowered to make it happen, is fundamental to the prevention of student suicide."

Eddy Pinkney, director of Mental Wealth UK, said: "As a new national student-led organisation we are delighted to have the support of Papyrus, a UK leader in suicide prevention.

"This award plays a key part in our strategy for building a nationwide network of student-led mental health and wellbeing initiatives."