Hussain Manawer, poet and record-breaking mental health campaigner, has launched Hussain’s House Live – the UK’s largest mental health youth festival.
Hussain’s House Live will see 1,300 students from across the UK come together to tackle stigma around cyber bullying, self-care & self-esteem, bereavement, depression and anxiety.
The inaugural event, delivered in partnership with Twitter UK and supported by One Young World and the Samaritans, will take place at the world-renowned Hackney Empire throughout Thursday, July 5th 2018.
Open to all schools, colleges and youth groups in the UK, Hussain’s House Live will be live-streamed on Twitter.
Hussain Manawer said: “Depression and anxiety affect us all in different ways and to varying degrees, but modern society expects people to be unbreakable and immune to nervous breakdown. For guys, failure to be in control of things 24/7 is seen as an embarrassing loss of masculinity.
“More young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. Suicide is the single biggest killer of young men in the UK.
“Hussain’s House Live is about bringing everyone together – from businesses and schools to charities – to take a stand and show young people that emotional well-being isn’t something that can be shrugged off.
“We’re calling for schools, colleges and other youth groups to get involved. This is about speaking up, speaking out, and showing that it’s critical we talk about mental health. That’s the only way we can remove the cultural barriers brought on by stigma.”
Bruce Daisley, Vice President, Twitter UK & Europe said: “Like most people my connection to HussainManawer was first and foremost personal. His work moved me. The emotional impact of it took me by surprise.
“It was then that it became clear that this was a project that Twitter would be proud to be part of. His thoughtful provocative combination of wit and wisdom helps us all have conversations that have lasting impact.”
Kate Robertson, founder, One Young World said: “We’ve been immensely proud to support Hussain ever since he stole the show at the One Young World Summit in 2015 with his poetry about mental health. Hussainis the embodiment of a young leader – and the work that he’s doing to challenge stigmas associated with mental illness in young men and women is absolutely vital.
“Mental health has received far too little attention for far too long and we’re delighted to be helping Hussaineducate young people around the world through Hussain’s House Live.”
Yamin Choudury, Director of Artistic Programme, Hackney Empire said: “Hackney Empire and Hussain made history when we set the Guinness World Record in 2017 for the World’s Largest Mental Health Lesson.
“So when Hussain came to us with the idea of a festival exploring mental health narratives and stigmas, we knew we had to help him make that happen.
“Many people are only just realising how much mental health issues can and do affect us all, especially our young people, so breaking down barriers to those conversations is key.”
Visit www.hussainmanawer.com for more information about how to take part.
