• The stigma associated with mental ill health
• The lack of knowledge about mental health/illness
• The lack of a language/literacy to engage in conversation on the topic
• A common reluctance to engage with adults as a part of teenage development
• The concern of confidentiality
• The need for choice when seeking help solutions

The Read the Play program is designed to:

• Equip both the PWO and the young people with basic information about mental health ie. signs & symptoms
• Break down the stigma around mental illness
• Equip young people with a language/literacy around mental health to facilitate help seeking conversations
• Introduce the PWOs as approachable, caring people, who understand the fundamentals of mental illness
• Stress the confidential nature of personal communications on the topic of mental wellbeing
• Offer options of alternative places to seek information and help for mental health issues
• Support the PWO, with a consultant working in the field of youth mental health
• Support the PWO in their role by providing a set of informative resources on a range of mental illnesses via a mental health resource folder, that could be shared with young people. Posters are provided to the club with contact details of where to go for help in their local area.