A healthy walk along the river offered students from Stockton Riverside College the chance to focus on their own wellbeing today as part of World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2025).

Dressed in yellow, health and social care learners headed out to the Tees Barrage for a leisurely stroll as part of YoungMinds’ Hello Yellow initiative.

Lecturer in health and social care Luke Blyth said: “As a health and social care department it is so important to have that awareness of mental health, particularly among young people.

“There can still be a lot of stigma around mental health and the idea that if you talk about it you are considered weak, or it’s something to be ashamed of.

“The reality is mental health is something you should never feel ashamed of, it should be something you can speak openly about and share your experiences with others. As a college we wanted to do just a little something to keep sharing that message.”

Health and social care students were joined by adult learners studying the Access to Higher Education courses, teaching and support staff, on the walk from the college along the riverside to the rapids and back.

Among them was Access to Higher Education in Health student, Ismail. The 19-year-old from Stockton said: “Today was all about the importance of mental health. It is so important to have a community that can come together for topics such as this to raise awareness and share support. We also came together as a group to have a nice chat, a laugh, and a walk.”

Fellow access student Kevan, 30, of Stockton said: “Mental health is a reality, but people often suffer in silence. As human beings we need connection, and we need people around us to reinforce that feeling of union and community.”

World Mental Health Day is a reminder to take the time to prioritise your mental health and that people don’t have to deal with mental health struggles on their own.

Stockton Riverside College’s course leader for health and social care, Gareth White, said: “Mental health is a growing concern with current social challenges such as misinformation only exacerbating that.

“At the same time social media is everywhere but many people are missing out on connecting with individuals in a real sense, and that has never been more important.

“By encouraging open discussions around mental health we can support the next generation. We want to let them know that no matter what, there is always someone willing to listen.”