Young London SOS: ‘Everyone is going through a tough time’ - footballer Patrice Evra leads stars backing campaign

Stars including footballer Patrice Evra, actresses Anna Friel and Jessica Plummer, broadcaster June Sarpong and writer Scarlett Curtis have got behind the Evening Standard’s Young London SOS campaign to highlight the crushing mental health impact of the pandemic — because they say the topic resonates with their personal experience or is close to their heart.

Patrice Evra, the former West Ham and Manchester United player and French captain, said: “I know how hard it can be when you can’t open up and share your problems with others.

“Growing up, I went through really tough times, but once I had a network around me and spoke to others, it lifted my spirits and my mental well-being improved. So I know how valuable sharing your troubles can be at a young age. Everyone is going through a tough time at the moment.

“This is why the Standard’s Young London SOS campaign is vital and I’m proud to be a supporter. To anyone who is struggling, I say don’t be afraid to reach out.” TV presenter June Sarpong, the BBC’s director of creative diversity, suffered the loss of her brother, Sam, who died in October 2015 aged 40. She said: “I am delighted that the Evening Standard and Place2Be are teaming up to support young people’s mental well-being during this pandemic. It is important that we take special care of the next generation and work to ensure they are able to weather this crisis so as to help the nation rebuild stronger.”

Our campaign was launched last month following an investigation which revealed that an additional 500,000 children will need mental health support this year, on top of the one in six children identified by the NHS as already experiencing a serious mental disorder. We teamed up with Place2Be, the UK’s leading provider of school-based mental health services, to help them support more pupils and more schools.

EastEnders star Jessica Plummer, who has highlighted the issue of domestic violence, added her voice, saying: “I will always champion resources put in place to help make it easier for children struggling through this hard time. Young London SOS is an extremely important campaign. We live in unprecedented times, leaving people more isolated than ever.

“It is vital we do not forget how much this pandemic has affected the younger generation and so it’s key that we keep the incredible services Place2Be provide going across as many schools as possible. Having a safe place to speak openly is crucial to well-being and development.”

Scarlett Curtis, the daughter of Richard Curtis and Emma Freud who curated a collection of essays on mental health published in 2019, also backed us by tweeting that Young London SOS is “an incredibly important campaign!”

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