![DRIVE CHANGE _ Web Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.ymcaexeter.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/DRIVE-CHANGE-_-Web-Image.jpg?fit=1082%2C610&ssl=1)
Right now, children and young people in Devon are waiting on average 127 days to get mental health support. Our free service is inundated with referrals. Last year, YMCA Exeter received over 140 referrals for 5-18-year-olds struggling with low mood, anxiety and behavioural difficulties.
If we’re going to be able to keep our service open, we need to raise £35,000.
Between now and October, every £1 you give will be doubled to £2.
Restoring Joy: Kirsty’s story
Kirsty, whose name has been changed, referred her 13-year-old son to YMCA Exeter’s free wellbeing service:
“I think as a parent, when your child is struggling, it’s hard to know where to start to get help and who to trust. But I knew of YMCA Exeter and felt happy that their team would be able to support my son.
“My son had mild anxiety for a while. But covid exasperated this. He missed a huge chunk of school and this had a negative effect on him. He was nervous about socialising and reluctant to leave the house.
“After the first session with Will, my son came out saying he “loved it!”
“Through the ten sessions, he has definitely built up his resilience and learnt anxiety-coping techniques that we can use when he is struggling.
“My son used to refuse to go into town but he will now do it.
“It was also good for me as a parent to realise it’s not a reflection on me. Sometimes it takes someone else to step in and help out.”
After ten sessions with Will, Kirsty’s son’s anxiety levels had dropped from 72 to 52. 13 points below the clinical threshold for support.