Voyage supported the London element of the project, helping to recruit and engage young Black men and other young people whose experiences are often underrepresented in mental health research and policy discussions. Working alongside the University of Bristol and community partners across the UK, Voyage helped create a space where young people could speak honestly about issues affecting them, including racism, policing, gang pressures, financial stress, cultural expectations, social media, safety and belonging.

The report makes clear that young people do not experience mental health in isolation from the world around them. Instead, their wellbeing is deeply shaped by the environments they grow up in, the opportunities available to them and the way society responds to their identities and circumstances. Across all three cities, one of the strongest themes to emerge was the importance of belonging. Young people repeatedly described feeling accepted, understood and safe as central to positive mental wellbeing. Equally, exclusion, judgement and pressure to conform were identified as major contributors to stress, anxiety and isolation.

Participants described the challenge of navigating multiple identities at once, particularly where cultural expectations, religion, ethnicity and peer pressures overlap. Some young people spoke about feeling “split between two identities”, struggling to balance expectations from family and community with pressures to fit in socially at school, college or work. Others reflected on the impact of discrimination linked to race, immigration status or religion, particularly experiences of Islamophobia and racism. Young people explained how these experiences affect confidence, self-esteem and the ability to feel comfortable being themselves.

The London workshops, supported by Voyage , provided particularly important insight into the experiences of young Black men living in urban environments. Participants discussed how postcode stigma, gang culture and stop and search practices shaped their sense of safety and identity. Several young men spoke about the stress of moving through certain areas, feeling judged before they had spoken, or feeling pressure to become involved in gangs at a young age. The report also references concerns around the adultification of Black boys and young men, where young people are treated as older, more threatening or less vulnerable than their peers, leading to harsher treatment and increased anxiety.

Alongside these challenges, young people consistently highlighted the importance of youth organisations, trusted adults and safe community spaces. Across all three workshop locations, participants described youth clubs and community organisations as vital spaces where they could socialise safely, access support, learn new skills and feel understood. Young people spoke positively about spaces that allowed them to stay off the streets, build friendships and access guidance from adults who understood the realities they faced. The report identifies these environments as important protective factors for mental health and wellbeing, particularly for young people affected by marginalisation and inequality.

The findings strongly reinforce the role organisations like Voyage play in supporting young people before problems escalate into crisis. The report repeatedly points to prevention, community support and early intervention as essential to improving young people’s mental health outcomes. Rather than focusing only on treatment after problems emerge, the research argues for greater investment in the social conditions that allow young people to thrive, including safe spaces, trusted relationships, financial stability and equitable opportunities.

Financial insecurity emerged as another major theme throughout the workshops. Young people described the pressure of living through the cost-of-living crisis while also trying to navigate education, employment and adulthood. Participants spoke about the stress caused by unemployment, low income and the inability to afford basic social activities or travel costs. Many also discussed how discrimination affects employment opportunities, particularly for young Black people, disabled young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Young people linked these barriers directly to feelings of hopelessness, anxiety and uncertainty about the future.

The report also explored the role of social media in shaping young people’s mental health. Participants described social media as both unavoidable and emotionally exhausting, with constant exposure to global conflict, political instability and unrealistic lifestyle expectations contributing to feelings of helplessness and pressure. Young women in particular discussed the impact of beauty standards, comparison culture and the pressure to present a perfect image online. Young people explained that social media had made pressures that once existed mainly in schools or peer groups feel constant and inescapable.

Many participants also spoke about the responsibilities they carry at a young age. Young people described balancing education with caring responsibilities for younger siblings or family members, often while being expected to behave like fully independent adults. Several young women discussed the pressure of balancing education, work and cultural expectations within the home, while young men reflected on expectations around masculinity, financial success and emotional suppression. The report highlights how these overlapping pressures can contribute to burnout, stress and poor mental wellbeing.

Importantly, the report does not simply identify problems — it also makes clear recommendations for change. These include greater long-term investment in youth and community spaces, improved reporting on inequalities within mental health services, stronger support for young people facing financial hardship, and involving young people directly in decisions about safety and public policy. The report also argues that young people should be treated as partners in shaping solutions, rather than as problems to be managed.

For Voyage, the findings reflect many of the realities young people share with staff and youth workers every day. The report provides further evidence that community-led youth work, trusted adult relationships and safe spaces are not optional extras, but essential forms of support that protect young people’s wellbeing and future opportunities. Voyage’s involvement in the MOSAIC project ensured that young people whose experiences are too often overlooked were included in a national conversation about mental health inequality and social justice.

As the MOSAIC project moves into its next phase, researchers will use large-scale UK datasets to further investigate the inequalities highlighted by young people during the workshops. However, the message from this first phase is already clear: young people understand the pressures affecting their mental health, and meaningful change will require listening to their experiences and investing in the communities and organisations that support them every day.

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