Pressures on young people entering the world of work will be at the top of the agenda at an event this week.

More than 100 representatives from firms across Cumbria will meet to discuss young people’s mental health.

To coincide with World Mental Health Day this week, it is part of the This is Me campaign, launched to end the stigma of mental health in the workplace.

Employers, including Sellafield, BAE Systems and Cumbria Constabulary are backing the campaign, which was launched in Cumbria earlier this year.

This event, at Energus at Lillyhall on Wednesday, is a chance for employers to hear from young people about the issues they face when transitioning from school or college to the workplace and what they can do to help.

In Cumbria, one in 10 children are estimated to have an emotional wellbeing problem and hospital admissions for mental health are significantly higher than the national average, a recent report commissioned by Sellafield Limited said.

Despite these figures, the report adds, in Cumbria many young people face waits of up to nine months to get help from the NHS.

Alan Rankin, people transformation lead at Sellafield, and one of the event organisers, said: “When young people are in school or college, they have a certain kind of pastoral care – it is wraparound care.

"When they enter the world of work, it’s a different kind of pastoral care they need.

“We have invited employers to be the audience for this event and they will hear from young people themselves about what they need from their companies.

“We need to start the conversation about mental health and young people in the workplace.”

Speakers include Maryport’s We Will, an award winning group of young people aged 14 to18 who have joined together to campaign for change in the way that youth mental health is dealt with in their schools, communities and families.

Also due to address the delegates is Michael Boaden, of Carlisle Eden Mind to talk about the situation in Cumbria.

To give a training and employer’s perspective, Kath Walker, business systems lead at nucleargraduates,[CORR] based at Energus, and Ian Burns, SHE director of BAE Systems in Barrow will also speak.

Mr Burns said: “BAE SYSTEMS Submarines has a significant early careers programme involving almost 1,000 people. We have a strong business focus on mental wellbeing and we particularly recognise the life challenges that our early careers population can face.

“To address this and to help every early careers employee thrive and have the confidence to realise their full potential, we have a really strong focus on safeguarding and pastoral care.”

Mrs Walker added: “Health and wellbeing is high on the agenda at Energus and is integral to everything we do. We pride ourselves on being accessible should any of our learners need to talk. We have emergency phones, which are with a member of the team, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all learners are encouraged to call it should they need us.”

Practical guidance on how business leaders can implement initiatives to help support their employees will also be given.

Mr Rankin added: “Mental health in the workplace is not an initiative or a passing fad. We, as big employers, have a moral responsibility to take care of young people transitioning from school or college to the workplace.

“People are taking mental health more seriously than ever before - but it is not just the latest thing, it is a permanent way of working.”