00:00 82% of young people have at some point or are currently seeking support for their mental
00:07 health. On a concerning note, one in three struggle to find the help and support and
00:12 so this partnership is very much about bridging that gap and democratising access to help
00:18 and support. So later in the year we're actually going to be piloting therapy in the metaverse
00:24 which has never been done before. It's something that we feel really excited about and at the
00:30 same time we're also going to be launching a school programme and launching mental health
00:35 support initiatives in classrooms across the UK.
00:38 Therapy in the metaverse, is this the future and how does that work?
00:42 It's really fascinating. Ditch the label has always pioneered the use of technology. We
00:48 believe that technology can be used for good and I think quite often when we have conversations
00:53 about the internet and social media it's usually about the harms and dangers it creates and
00:58 this is a perfect example of how technology can actually be used to really support people
01:04 that really need it.
01:06 But what actually is the metaverse and how would you have a therapy session in it? The
01:10 metaverse is a vision of what many in the computer industry believe is the next iteration
01:15 of the internet. A single, shared, immersive 3D virtual space. Liam explains the benefits
01:21 of this as the future of the mental health support system.
01:25 When people are represented by an avatar it can make it much easier to talk about things
01:31 that perhaps they would struggle to talk about if they were sat face to face opposite an
01:37 adult therapist with a clipboard. That can be really scary if you haven't experienced
01:42 that before. We also know that there's huge waiting lists to get support through the NHS
01:48 and if you're not in a position where you can pay to have it privately it leaves a lot
01:53 of people who really need help and support.
01:57 Alongside worrying figures revealing just how many of the nation's young people are
02:01 seeking mental health support comes news it's not easy to acquire when necessary. The survey
02:07 found 33% struggle with access to mental health support with the biggest barrier for them
02:12 being waiting times. According to the Mental Health Foundation an alarming 75% of children
02:18 and young people who experience mental health problems aren't getting the help they need.
02:23 Luna suffered with her own mental health issues when she was younger and says she's not surprised
02:28 by the stats.
02:29 I was not surprised at all. I personally relate to all of the statistics from the recent Maybelline
02:36 UK survey and in that as a Gen Z person myself I have sought out mental health support throughout
02:44 my life and at times wanting the help that I needed so badly but have not always been
02:51 able to get. Like the 33% from the statistics I've struggled hugely with mental health support
02:57 access which in turn has led me to social media in search for support and services.
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