Dixons Carphone and The Mix get their Heads Together to launch #ThereForMe campaign for World Mental Health Day

by Zoë Bailie (she/her)

Deputy CEO/Chief Development Officer

Monday 10th October 2016

October 10, 2016.

Today, Dixons Carphone will team up with The Mix and the Heads Together campaign to celebrate inspirational people who have provided psychological and mental health support to someone in their time of need.

During a special Heads Together World Mental Health Day event at the London Eye and County Hall, Dixons Carphone will launch #ThereForMe, a social media campaign to highlight how everyone has tough times and thank those people who are there for us when we need them.

Dixons Carphone is a Founding Partner of Heads Together – a campaign spearheaded by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, which aims to end stigma around mental health and change the conversation from fear and shame, to confidence and support. The campaign wants everyone to feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing and be able to support friends and families through difficult times. Heads Together is celebrating this support on World Mental Health Day and at the London Eye event the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will meet people who have helped each other with their mental health, to find out about the support that can make all the difference.

Heads Together brings together eight UK charities which reflect the passions of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, including Dixon Carphone’s charity partner of fifteen years, The Mix, who support over 2 million young people each year through our digital services. It is hoped that the #ThereForMe campaign will also raise vital funds to support the essential work that The Mix does.

Anyone wanting to take part in #ThereForMe is encouraged to visit www.thereforme.org and follow the easy three step process. Alternatively, they can call into any Currys, PC World or Carphone Warehouse store and ask a store colleague for assistance.

Already taking part in #ThereForMe are GMTV star Andrew Castle and Dixons Carphone CEO Seb James.

Speaking of the importance of this campaign to Dixons Carphone, Group Chief Executive, Seb James, said: “Sadly we all experience tough times directly or indirectly at some point in our life, and although the catalyst may vary, the impact on our own mental health and those around us can be immense. As with everyone, mental wellbeing impacts my ability to be a good husband, father, son, friend and colleague, so I am delighted to be supporting Heads Together with our charity partner The Mix and raising awareness on World Mental Health Day.”

CEO of The Mix, Chris Martin, said: “Every day, The Mix works with young people struggling with their mental health through our digital, social and mobile services. We are enormously excited to be joining Dixons Carphone and the Heads Together campaign to launch the #ThereForMe campaign online and in Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores across the country. This innovative use of social media is a huge step towards challenging stigma around talking about our mental health by celebrating the invaluable role that friends and family play in supporting our wellbeing when we struggle.”

Louise Jones, a member of the Heads Together London Marathon team for The Mix, said: “When I bashed my foot playing hockey in school, I knew I had to make it better but needed support to make that happen. When I hit rock bottom with my mental health, I knew I had to make it better but needed support to make that happen. Being in control of yourself, physically AND mentally, often can’t happen without support. And that’s ok. We need to acknowledge that, and appreciate it. I would not be here, right now, without the support of those closest to me, professionals, organisations like The Mix… and running! So thank you. For believing in my ability to get better, but giving me a push to get there.”

Across 1,000 Carphone Warehouse and Currys PC World stores in the UK and Ireland between 10^th and 16^th October, people can have their photo taken with a specially designed #ThereForMe photo frame. To find details of your local store or to simply upload a picture in the comfort of your own home, please visit: www.thereforme.org and help banish the negative stigma surrounding mental health. To make a donation to The Mix and help fund their vital advice service for young people across the UK, please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ThereForMe.

-ENDS-

About #ThereForMe

Launching on World Mental Health Day, October 10th, #ThereForMe will encourage people to take one simple action: to go into any Dixons Carphone store and have a photo taken in a photo frame holding up a sign with the name of a person who has supported them through a challenging time.

These photos will be shared on social media with the hashtag #ThereForMe and uploaded to our campaign microsite, which will also provide an option to make a donation to The Mix. For those that can’t visit a store there will also be the opportunity to upload your photo online and we will encouraging as many people to say thanks to someone that was #ThereForMe

About The Mix and Heads Together

Dixons Carphone’s charity partner, The Mix, is a confidential multi-channel help service, supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of young people under 25, whatever their issue, through the technology of their choice.

The remarkable work The Mix is doing to safeguard the mental well-being of our nation’s young people has gained the support of the ‘Heads Together’ campaign, spearheaded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. This campaign is working hard to change the conversation around mental health, from one of shame and prejudice, to one of greater acceptance and understanding.

As the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year, The Mix and the seven other charity partners working to end the stigma surrounding mental health have a huge platform upon which to raise both funds and awareness.

About Dixons Carphone 

Dixons Carphone plc is Europe’s leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 40,000 people in nine countries.

Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and Knowhow.

Dixons Carphone’s primary brands include Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PCWorld in the UK & Ireland, Elkjøp, Elkjøp Phonehouse, Elgiganten, Elgiganten Phonehouse, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK & Ireland airports and Phone House in Spain. Our key service brands include Knowhow in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, PC World Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Group’s existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses.

Dixons Carphone was voted ‘Retailer of the Year’ at the Retail Week Awards 2016.

For more information about Dixons Carphone plc, please visit www.dixonscarphonegroup.com

Follow us on Twitter: @DixonsCarphone

Contacts

Kesah Trowell from Dixons Carphone, 07813 330129, [email protected]

Julie Burley from Heads Together, 07974 302999, [email protected]

Zoe Bailie from The Mix, 07766660755, [email protected]