MH:2K - a youth led approach to exploring mental health (360G-Wellcome-208700_Z_17_Z)

MH:2K empowers young people to explore mental health-related science and research, influencing research priorities and public sector decision-making. Wellcome funding would enable us to build on MH:2K’s successful pilot in Oldham, turning it into a financially sustainable model that is ready to scale and has national impact. We will: \- Test the MH:2K model in four areas demographically and geographically different to Oldham; \- Build a network of local and national champions capable of promoting and funding the model going forwards. By its end, this project will have: \- Enabled 2,000+ diverse young people to discuss and explore mental health-related science and research – including on mental health’s social and cultural impacts - in ways that are accessible and relevant to them; ? \- Reached young people who previously had limited opportunities to explore these areas; \- Offered local and national researchers and decision-makers a youth-led perspective on mental health that takes account of the changing environment facing young people, thereby supporting them to: \- Critically engage with mental health research; \- Take more informed decisions to improve health outcomes; \- Increased knowledge of, and appetite for, public engagement amongst local and national researchers and decision-makers. \- Amassed the evidence and support needed to make MH:2K financially sustainable.