Elite athletes use psychological techniques to prepare themselves mentally for great physical challenges. Researchers at the University have adapted these mental skills to help young people find the strength to work their way out of homelessness and aims to prevent those most at risk.
From the pitch to those in urgent need
Professor Jennifer Cumming and a team of researchers at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences originally adapted the sports psychology techniques and mental skills training used by top athletes when a parent at a local football club, who worked for youth homelessness charity St Basils, spotted the potential. The University and St Basils teamed up to co-create a dedicated programme, My Strengths Training for Life (MST4Life™), to help young people facing the enormous difficulties of homelessness.
Jean Templeton, Chief Executive of St Basils, recognises how being homeless can create a sense of hopelessness: 'The stereotypes of homelessness can all too quickly attach themselves to young people and trap them. A focus only on need, risks and problems can overshadow young people's talents, strengths and ambition.' Young adults are among those affected, and the fallout of the pandemic means the numbers are on the rise.
Watch Birmingham researchers Dr Mary Quinton and Ben Parry explain how MST4Life™ is making a positive change to youth homelessness.
How mental skills training for homelessness works
Helping young people identify their strengths, rather than focusing on what they lack, can break down negative self-perceptions and help build up self-esteem, perseverance and resilience.
The MST4Life™ toolkit, the first of its kind, is designed to rebuild confidence and self-belief through six mental skills:
- Strengths profile: what am I good at? What extra skills do I need to get where I want to go?
- Goal-setting: what SMART goals can I set for my habits, education, employment and relationships and how can I get there?
- If/Then: how can I use my strengths to be resilient in the face of setbacks? 'If X happens, then I will do Y'.
- Emotional awareness grid: how can I manage my emotions healthily during such a difficult time?
- What coping strategies will help me manage problems both practically and emotionally?
- Dream team: who can I reach out to as a role model, supporter or advisor?
Project participants on the four-day residential trip at Coniston Water in the Lake District. Photo credit: Dr Mark Holland.
Preventing those most at risk from becoming homeless
The pandemic has put additional strain on fractured family relationships, leaving many more young people experiencing homelessness, with national youth homelessness helplines reporting a doubling in calls during lockdowns. The Cook and Wolstenholme Charitable Trust has stepped in with a donation of £74,000 to help more charities use MST4Life™ to prevent homelessness. A trustee said: 'We wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of young people across the city. We were inspired by the work the University's youth mental health researchers are doing in collaboration with charities like St Basils, helping the most vulnerable not only cope with homelessness but reduce their risk of becoming homeless.'
Professor Jennifer Cumming, leader of the Birmingham team who co-created the programme, says: 'MST4Life™ is very scalable – the more funding it receives, the more people charities can reach. This gift will help us continue supporting St Basils, and help the growing number of similar charities who want our help to adopt the MST4Life™ toolkit, whose aims are to prevent youth homelessness; equipping vulnerable young people with key skills to be independent.'