The Mental Health Awareness Society (MHAS) is a student-led initiative which was created to encourage more open conversations about mental health and to make support feel more accessible.
In its first term, MHAS welcomed 75 students to its launch meeting and has since averaged 44 students at each session. Discussions have covered topics including anxiety, depression, exam stress and resilience.
The aim is to provide a welcoming space where students can learn, reflect and support one another. Sixth Form founder Ilyan says, “If the club helps even one person feel more understood or supported, then it has achieved exactly what it was created for.”
The society’s impact has extended beyond its weekly meetings. Alongside Danny Bassett (OS 2024), Ilyan and MHAS helped organise a charity hockey match that raised over £1,500 for mental health causes.
As the society looks ahead to another exciting year, it hopes to continue encouraging open conversations and welcoming both new and current students into an inclusive community.
