Sam is a trained mental health nurse and a former pupil of All Hallows Catholic High School, Preston. Having experienced struggles with his own mental health as a teenager, he set up Change Talks that operates across the North West. Working in conjunction with the NHS to raise awareness of mental health-related issues among young people as well as young adults, Sam has been working with a number of Catholic schools to deliver sessions on different mental health issues that can affect young people. He is currently delivering weekly sessions to All Hallows Year 11 pupils on how to cope with exam stress, how to improve their self-esteem and how to support peers and family members who may be struggling with their own mental health.
His former teacher said “Sam is an incredibly caring and thoughtful young man who should be proud of his efforts. The fact that he is prepared to talk about quite personal issues relating to mental health to teenagers is no mean feat! I think his biggest drive is to prevent troubled young people from harming themselves or taking their own lives, so any recognition for helping those in their darkest hours would be a good thing.”
Sam Tyrer, 23
Lancashire