Boris Johnson MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, took time this afternoon to join Councillor Steve Tuckwell, Hillingdon Council’s Mental Health Ambassador on a visit to Link Counselling Service as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.  

Link provides counselling by appointment for people aged 13-25 years who live, work or study in the London Borough of Hillingdon.  Counselling offers people an opportunity to talk about particular areas in life that are causing distress.  It aims to help make better sense of feelings and see difficulties in a more manageable way.  Counsellors are trained to listen without giving advise or being judgemental.   They will work to help people find their own answers.  

This year’s Mental Health Awareness week focuses on body image which can cause anxieties for many people leading to life long mental health conditions.  The Government has recently pledged an extra £2.3 billion of investment by 2023-24 towards mental health services which includes faster access for help for conditions like eating disorders.  

Commenting on the visit Mr Johnson said: “It was great to pop into Link this afternoon to hear first hand about the sterling work they are doing to ensure that young people have their voices heard.  Good Mental Health is vitally important and this free counselling service really supports young people if they need a hand or advice.”