Sponsored by Public Health Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland’s collaboration with See Me and Queer Film Night has given young people the space to tell their own stories — on their own terms. Through a powerful series of short films, the “Breaking the Stigma” series has tackled mental health stigma and discrimination head-on, using creativity to amplify the voices that often go unheard.
This project is more than just filmmaking; it’s about connection and understanding. By developing, storyboarding, and filming narratives based on their lived experiences, young people have deepened their mental health literacy while reflecting on the impact of stigma in their own lives.
The final films are powerful, emotive, and do more than highlight the challenges young people face; they issue a call to action. Mental health professionals are challenged to improve their practice, and wider audiences are asked to reconsider their own assumptions about mental health stigma. The project ensures that those struggling know they are not alone, and those who haven’t experienced mental ill health are encouraged to become allies.
“These videos are extremely important to me not just as a young queer woman but also as an individual with a disability. It’s very difficult to have your voice heard never mind considered but on this occasion working alongside See Me and LGBT Youth Scotland I was given that opportunity to not only have my voice heard but projected.”
Beyond the message, the young filmmakers have built skills that will serve them well into their future — storyboarding, filming, editing, and most importantly, finding their voice.
Time to Talk is a remarkable collaboration of five community-based youth work organisations in Edinburgh, focused on supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing. By providing safe, welcoming spaces, the project helps young people build resilience, express themselves, and access support when they need it most.
A standout feature of the project is its weekend presence at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where youth workers bring compassionate, youth work-led support into a clinical setting. The partnership extends into the community, ensuring young people receive continuous, holistic, and accessible care with a lasting impact.
Collaboration is at the heart of Time to Talk’s success, bringing together organisations across Edinburgh to meet urgent mental health needs in a coordinated way. Through one-on-one support, the initiative encourages young people to better understand and manage their mental health, open conversations and reducing stigma. By consistently delivering personalised support, it nurtures resilience — helping young people develop the emotional strength to face life’s challenges.
The partnership with NHS Lothian is a key strength of the project, showcasing the power of collaboration to enhance services through shared expertise. Time to Talk’s integration of youth work within healthcare settings highlights an innovative approach to addressing mental health needs across communities.
This project has made a profound difference, equipping young people with the tools to improve their mental health literacy, build resilience, and form lasting connections with support networks. By uniting clinical and community support, Time to Talk exemplifies how partnership can create lasting change in young people’s lives.
Collaborators:
Ryan Moir, the Recharge Focus Coordinator at Recharge Youth Centre in Tranent, is a true force in supporting young people’s mental health. He provides tailored one-to-one support, issue-based group work, and attends drop-in sessions to offer immediate assistance. Ryan has cultivated meaningful connections with disengaged young people, earning their trust and helping them build resilience.
In partnership with Ross High School and East Lothian Council, he designed a four-week mental health programme for S1 pupils, which is now used as a key mental health resource for the school and young people. Ryan’s integration of ad hoc one-to-one support within youth forums and the creation of a chill room at Recharge for overwhelmed young people demonstrate his commitment to holistic care.
His innovative approaches don’t end there — Ryan also designed a transition programme for P7 students around resilience and anxiety, and ensured inclusivity by creating resources for young people with low literacy or who are out of school. He was also the first person outside of East Lothian Council or NHS staff to deliver the Let’s Introduce Anxiety Management Programme in partnership with the NHS.
As one young person said:
“I have been working with Ryan for two years one-to-one and he has helped me with managing my confidence and anxiety. he’s helped me to achieve goals that I have always wanted and always helped me to achieve things that I wouldn’t have been able to do.”
Ryan’s efforts have given young people coping strategies, a stronger connection to their community, and the confidence to make informed decisions. By creating trust, reducing anxiety, and allowing safe spaces for open conversations, Ryan has impacted young people’s lives — enabling them to better understand their emotions and access essential support.