PUPILS are thrilled to have made a difference in mental health services for young people across Barnet.

Students at Hendon School in Golders Rise, organised what they believed to be London’s first ever student-led mental health conference on July 13.

The “SOS - Stamp Out Stigma” conference saw students pitch their plans to win a grant for the project, they designed a logo and gift bags, organised speakers and workshops.

Students united communities from across north London, and Haringey’s mental health trust chief executive Maria Kane, signed agreement to work with Barnet Citizens on referral times, digital strategy, and early prevention training for young people.

Ms Kane said a meeting to make progress on the work with the Clinical Commissioning Group would take place by the end of September.

Hendon’s team of 10 students, led by head boy Sharmarke Dhaqane, organised the day’s activities for 150 people.

He said: “Like many schools, we weren’t having enough conversations about mental health. In the last two years we have worked hard to change this. We are so proud that after months of hard work we can now say that we’re improving the experience of young people in the borough with mental health services.”

Their workshops attracted mental health professionals such as Nicky Lambert of Middlesex University, the mental health charity SANE, and Dick Moore from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

The conference ended as students presented a ‘Barnet Young People Mental Health Charter’.

This was a result of nine months of work with Alyth Synagogue, Finchley Reform Synagogue, Noam Marom, Woodhouse College and Hendon School.