Meet the monsters! Wellbeing videos by young people, for young people

Young people in Sunderland and South Tyneside have created a fantastic new series of animations with support from North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

Young people from South Tyneside Young Health Ambassadors and Sunderland Young Commissioners were keen to help others to get active, feel better and enjoy good mental health.

Working with staff from the ICB as well as the Trust's Dietician and Life Cycle Service, the group played a key part in creating a group of lovable monsters who share wellbeing messages online, and voicing them in a series of animations.

Designed for quick and easy viewing on mobile phones, the animated monsters are seen in everyday situations where simple things like calling a friend, going for a walk together or playing with the dog can help us change the mood, get more active and develop positive lifestyle habits.

Sunderland resident Mia got involved in the project through the Young Commissioners group. Mia, 17, said she wanted to get more useful information out there for young people, and was glad that her ideas had been listened to as the animation idea took shape.

Valentyna Vasylevska, commissioning manager at the ICB, said: "Young people face many pressures in their daily lives and the group were keen to find a fun, engaging way to promote positive habits that can help us all get more active and boost our wellbeing.

"There's something wonderful in seeing a cuddly monster go from feeling lonely as he scrolls social media, to looking bright and full of smiles after a walk and a chat with a friend.

"Congratulations to Emilia, Connor, Isabella, Oliver and Mia for all they have done in making these great animations happen."

Kate Roberts, a dietitian at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We were keen to give young people positive tools for resilience in a way that they would find engaging and relevant. It was brilliant to get the young people to guide us - and the end product is fab!"

You can find the animations on South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust's YouTube channel:

The animations were developed with support from Creo Communications as well as staff from the ICB and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.