Today (Friday, 10 October 2025) marks World Mental Health Day, and a group of young people from across Scotland are taking the lead on a pioneering project to support their peers in staying safe and well online.
Launched in 2019 in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), and the Children’s Parliament, Mind Yer Time (MYT) has been helping children and young people manage their screen time and social media more effectively by giving them access to practical advice and tips.
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Overwhelm: when global events and relentless bad news become too much’, makes the project more relevant than ever, as the resource hubs it offers are specially designed by young people (aka Screensavers), and tailored to their needs and opinions.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said:
On World Mental Health Day, it’s inspiring to see young people leading the way on such an important issue. Mind Yer Time is a powerful example of what can be achieved when young voices are at the heart of the conversation around mental health and online wellbeing.
Since its launch, the project has provided practical, youth-led advice to help children and young people manage their screen time and social media use in ways that support their mental health. A heartfelt thank you to the young people behind this initiative – your leadership, creativity, and commitment continue to make a real difference.
Speaking about the impact of excessive screen time on mental health, Rajsee Saraf, Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) for Glasgow Pollok and a Screensaver, said:
Finding ways to reduce screen time and explore healthier alternatives is vital if we want to limit the effects of doomscrolling. Because children and young people have such easy access to information online, we are more tuned in than ever to the constant stream of news.
Without the right tools, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even to consume misleading information. Mind Yer Time gives us practical ways to take a step back, project our wellbeing, and stay safe online.
Screensavers meet regularly to produce content for Mind Yer Time and report their findings to the Scottish Government, which funds the project. When the MYT website was made live, Scotland became the first country in the world to provide a digital resource of this kind.
Mind Yer Time also has a section dedicated to adults, and further information about the project can be found here.
To find out more about World Mental Health Day, please visit the Mental Health Foundation’s website here.
