Co-Creating Mental Health Support with Young People at St Michael’s Catholic Academy
At Alliance Psychological Services, our commitment to mental health support is grounded in listening to and collaborating directly with young people to create services that truly resonate. Recently, we were honored to spend an inspiring day with students from St Michael’s Catholic Academy, where we hosted a co-production session designed to capture and amplify young voices. This session not only allowed students to share their unique insights but also brought their ideas to life through art.
Collaborative Planning for a Creative and Therapeutic Session
This event was carefully crafted through a collaboration between our Business Development team, Children and Young Families service, and a local artist. Together, they brought a blend of creative, educational, and clinical insights to the table, making the day both expressive and therapeutically valuable. This partnership ensured that the session was engaging and relevant, while also being grounded in mental health expertise.
Leading with Creativity
A key contributor to the day’s creative vision was Megan, our Business Development Assistant. With a background in art, Megan recently brought a fresh look to our brand with her signature line drawings, adding an approachable and friendly visual identity to our services. Her artistic background was instrumental in designing the hands-on workshop elements of the day.
Morning Session: Amplifying Youth Voices
The day began with a Young People’s Voices Forum for Year 8 students, led by Amanda, our Senior Low Intensity CBT Practitioner, and Lizzy, our Education Mental Health Practitioner. Their mental health and educational expertise helped create a supportive space where students felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences with mental health support. Using interactive activities and a dynamic post-it note system, students shared ideas on making mental health resources more accessible, effective, and youth-centered. This feedback provided invaluable insights into what young people need and value in mental health support.
Afternoon Session: Bringing Ideas to Life Through Art
The afternoon shifted to a creative workshop, led by Megan and attended by Year 10 art students. They took the powerful insights shared by Year 8 students and expressed them visually, incorporating their perspectives on mental health. This unique collaboration between year groups not only added depth to the project but also provided the Year 10 students with an opportunity to reflect on their own mental health needs. Guided by Megan, they transformed these ideas into expressive line drawings that captured their voice.
Impact and Reception
The power of blending diverse expertise with youth perspectives was evident throughout the day. The morning discussions, led by Amanda and Lizzy, gave Year 8 students a safe platform to voice their thoughts, while the afternoon’s workshop transformed these insights into art under Megan’s artistic direction. The continuous line drawings created by the students were powerful—capturing emotions and experiences in a way that is both accessible and inclusive.
These artworks are displayed across our website as part of our visual identity, reflecting the core themes shared by young people. You’ll find these drawings featured in various sections, serving as a reminder of the importance of co-producing mental health services with young people.
Looking Forward
This day at St Michael’s was a wonderful example of how different areas of expertise can come together to create meaningful outcomes. The collaboration between our Business Development team and the Children and Young Families service has set a model for future engagement work. By combining professional insights with youth perspectives, we can build more effective, relevant mental health services that truly reflect the needs of those we serve.
The ideas and visuals generated during this session will directly influence the ongoing development of our mental health services, ensuring young voices remain central to everything we do. Together with the students of St Michael’s, we’re creating mental health support that speaks directly to young people, designed by young people.
