Chudi Onwuazor is a social prescriber based at Lift Youth Hub, providing social and emotional support to young people. He chats to us about his role and young people’s mental health

Hi Chudi, tell us a bit about what you do

I’m a social prescriber for young people aged 11 to 25 in Islington. It’s all about giving wellbeing and mental health support through activities. Mental wellbeing can be improved by being active, meeting new people and learning new skills. These are just some of the objectives when we do activities with our young people.

Instead of asking young people ‘what’s the matter with you’, I try to figure out ‘what matters to you’. Sometimes that ends up being like one-to-one mentoring to help with their confidence. Sometimes it’s just about finding things that they like doing. For example, you might like football, but don’t know how to access it in your area. I will find a way for you to get involved. It’s not just signposting though; I’ll come with you and make sure you’re comfortable.

How do mental health problems affect young people?

Sadly, we’ve seen a massive increase in mental health problems since Covid-19. One of the major issues is anxiety. Quite a few of our referrals are kids who were out of school during Covid-19 and just haven’t gone back in. There are a lot of people who feel isolated as well because they never went back to normal life after the pandemic. It’s part of my job to rectify that by coaxing people out with things they enjoy.

Young people often aren’t forthcoming about how they feel, so you have to learn how to understand them. Once you earn their trust and they see that you’re invested in them, that helps to take down some of the barriers.

What kinds of activities are available for young people?

It’s a wide spectrum! Going to the gym, crocheting, cooking, boxing sessions, Afrobeat dance, music, art and crafts – there’s loads going on here at Lift. Islington is an amazing place. From Angel to Cally – there is so much on offer. We work closely with Access to Sport who offer after-school activities and free sports during school holidays. Having partners like that allows us to find opportunities for people across the borough.

How can parents and adults help young people with their mental health?

Look at their behaviour. If their behaviour changes, that should be your first indication that something may be up. From there, you need to have a great conversation with them. I find that it helps to be casual about it; let’s have a conversation where you’re going to say everything you need to say and I’m going to really listen. One of the most important things is just listening well. Sometimes young people think “Well, if no one listens to me, why am I going to vocalise it?” If you don’t feel like you’re equipped to deal with it, seek help. We’re here and there’s tons of services in the borough.

More at: islington.gov.uk/SocialPrescribing

Mental health support for young people: islington.gov.uk/YoungPeopleMentalHealth