Sir Gavin Williamson visited Walton High School in Stafford and spoke with the school’s Youth Parliament about their new mental health app.
Sir Gavin joined Councillor Ann Edgeller and Deputy Headteacher Dr Jo Rowley on a tour of the school and was invited to watch various classes including drama sessions and design technology workshops.
He also met with the school’s Youth Parliament, who showed him their new “Open Minds” app, which provides young people with access to mental health services in Staffordshire. The app gives users tips on how to look after their mental health and directs them to further resources and hotlines.
Sir Gavin said: “It was a pleasure to visit Walton High School, and I was especially heartened to learn about the students’ new app. Our teenage years can be stressful and disorientating, and I know that the support provided by the app will be of great help to many. I wish the students the very best and hope their project sees the success that it deserves.”
Mr Richard Brindley, Head of Sociology, said: “Youth Parliament students were delighted to present to Sir Gavin Williamson MP their current mental health project, “Open Minds”. Open Minds is a mental health directory app for the young people of Staffordshire and directs them to various mental health support networks in the area depending on their individual needs.
Sir Gavin was very helpful in not only providing feedback to the students, but how he could promote the app from a parliamentary position. With some of our students also in the race to become one of our local Youth MP’s, Sir Gavin also gave some great insight in how to run successful leadership elections and political campaigns.”
