My name is Safiyyah Sultana and I am a neuropsychotherapist. I have founded Sakinah Counselling due to the need of the community. After counselling for nearly two decades it has become apparent that many mental health issues stem during adolescence and adult clients would often say .... ‘I wish I knew how my brain works when I was young’.

Studies reveal 50% of mental health issues are established by the age of 14.

During adolescence, the body and brain experience a variety of biological changes that make this period of human development a time of learning opportunity but also carries risks. As the human brain prepares for adulthood, its development depends strongly on the learning environment provided during adolescence. Events and activities experienced during this developmental period prepare the brain for situations and circumstances it presumes the adolescent will experience as an adult. I am therefore raising funds for ‘Sakinah Mentorship For Youth’ to help these young people prepare for adulthood in educating them through mental health workshops, provide counselling, fitness and financial literacy programs.

Science of Adolescent Learning - https://tdlc.ucsd.edu/global/images/Science-of-Adolescent-Learning-How-Body-and-Brain-Development-Affect-Student-Learning.pdf

More studies on my website www.sakinahcounselling.com

The idea is to help disadvantaged young people for example from one parent family who for variety of reasons including socioeconomic status (SES) may not be able to afford these services. As previously stated the adolescent brain at this stage is of high risk due to hormonal, biological and neurological changes. Prefrontal Cortext (PFC) a part of the region of the brain which assesses right from wrong is not fully matured unlike the emotional part of the brain hence impulse control is a challenge for adolescents. Studies suggest this coupled with SES increases the chances of poor mental and physical health and is at greater risk of a negative trajectory.

"Socioeconomic inequalities are associated with mental health problems in childhood and adolescence. In particular, persistently low SES and a decrease in SES are major predictors of the onset of mental health problems in children and adolescents".

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953613002608

It is of vital importance then we give our young people a chance to lead a wholsome life where they are MENTORED for years to come and this is the 'uniqueness' of our project that we will follow and support these young people with their parents for years. The service is completely FREE for young people and free workshops for parents will be included to support them. The funds will be solely used for services i.e. cost of travel, expenses for equipment (workshops are free), counselling, fitness and financial literacy programs. Initially the service will launch in London, UK and we are hoping this service can be replicated in other cities depending on funds.