Mental Health support

Current situation

Brighton and Hove is facing a growing mental health crisis. Around 7,000 young people aged 2-19 are estimated to be experiencing mental health conditions.

For Young Females aged 17-19, this rises to 1 in 4.

Most mental health problems begin early in life. Three quarters start before the age of 24, often continuing into adulthood and affecting long-term health, opportunities, and wellbeing.

Yet research by the LSE and YoungMinds shows that only 25% of young females with mental health difficulties receive treatment.

Even when support is available, many young people do not engage or drop out. Some find it hard to talk about their mental health, preferring informal support. Or they struggle to connect with professionals who do not share their experiences.

This reflects our own findings. 31% of the Young Females we spoke to said there is not enough support available to meet their needs.

OUr approach

Project Female uses dance and creative movement to support the mental health and wellbeing of Young Females. We focus on Young Females aged 4–19 in the Greater Brighton area, especially those who face barriers to opportunity, education, or support.

Many of the Young Females we work with experience different forms of disadvantage. This can include poverty, disability, or coming from minority ethnic backgrounds. These challenges can make it harder for them to access services, feel heard, or take part in traditional youth activities.

Project Female creates safe and welcoming spaces where young people can express themselves, build confidence, and feel part of a supportive community.

Dance is a tool to help young people connect with themselves and others. Through movement and creative activities, participants can express their feelings, develop new skills, and build positive relationships.

Creative spaces like these can be especially helpful for Young Females who find it difficult to talk about their mental health or who feel uncomfortable in formal support settings.

Driving Meaningful Change

How we support young females in their mental health

    • Option to opt out or engage as much or as little as you want

    • Safe adults for support

    • Differentiated access - Mental Health Warm Up/ How full is your bucket/ Safe adults

    • Stealth mental health

    • Option to request support as and when it is needed

    • Safe Adults who are trained in trauma-informed practice and mental health first aid

    • Code of conduct for whole organisation

    • Culture of normalising emotional literacy

    • Building consistency relationships with long time frames with young females aged between 4 - 19yrs

    • Create a culture which challenges social norms and expecatations of young females

    • Understanding of emotional regulation

    • Tools for regulating emotions

    • Awareness of where emotions show up in the body

    • Emotional literacy - how to express feelings and ask for help

    • Confidence to use your voice

    • Experience positive response to asking for help

What Sets Us Apart

Mental Health Support

Mental health underpins all of Project Female’s work. We use a discreet, ‘stealth mental health’ approach, embedding tools for emotional regulation within dance sessions so young females can access support in ways and at times that feel right for them.

Creating Connection

Our work prioritises long‑term relationships, enabling young females to build trust with peers and safe adults over time. They are welcome to remain part of our community for as long as it feels right, with consistent support available at every session.

Driving Change

We use dance to support positive mental health habits, building emotional literacy and practical tools such as breathing and regulation exercises. Our sessions normalise talking about feelings and support young females to find their voice and express themselves confidently.

Our impact

  • 62% feel really proud of their achievements at Project Female

  • 56% said they felt they had been given space to express themselves

  • 60% said they felt they had safe adults to talk to should they need them

  • 57% said they felt like their opinion mattered at Project Female

Building confidence and self‑agency

  • 90% said their friendships at Project Female were really important to them

  • 84% said that they liked how supportive the Project Female community is

  • 72% said one of the most important things about Project Female was spending time with people who have the same passions as they do.

  • 72% said Project Female gave them something to look forward to

  • 68% said Project Female provided them with friendships

  • 52% felt they could be completely themselves within the dance studio

Strengthening connection and emotional safety

  • 88% said Project Female helped them feel less anxious

  • 72% said it helped them feel like a strong and valuable young female

  • 56% said Project Female gave them something to feel proud about

  • 47% said they felt their confidnce to share their thoughts and feelings had grown

Skills for resilience and positive mental health