Youth Mental Health 0800 What's Up w/Ban Al Galani

On 21 September 2001, the counselling service 0800 What’s Up answered its very first phone call. They have since have answered close to 1.5 million calls and over 29,000 chats.

The impact of COVID-19 on health, education, and employment uncertainty, as well as the rising costs of living, housing affordability, and other global factors at play means that the world our children and young people are growing up in is full of distressing and difficult challenges.

These issues highlight why services such as 0800 What’s Up are still  crucial to understanding the mental health needs for our young, 21 years on since that very first phone call.

To celebrate 21 years of mental health service, and Mental Health Awareness Week, I spoke to 0800 What’s Up Team Lead Ban Al Galani about their support efforts for our young, and the impact they have made in this time.