Why Netflix's Steve is a wake-up call on young people’s mental health

Mind is working with Netflix to promote upcoming film Steve, released on Netflix on 3 October, to highlight the crisis in young people’s mental health.

The film, based on the novella Shy, by Max Porter, demonstrates how cuts to youth services in the 1990s impacted a generation already experiencing poverty, trauma and discrimination.

The film follows 24 hours in the life of Steve, played by Cillian Murphy, headteacher of an alternative provision school for teenage boys.

In my work I encounter many young men who feel trapped by expectations of strength, by lack of safe spaces to express vulnerability, by societal neglect.

The story explores what is driving poor mental health among the young men and the staff, including touching on suicide, substance misuse and addiction, violence and bullying. 

Mind were thrilled to be invited by Netflix to the UK premiere of new film, Steve, which took place in London. Mind’s social media team interviewed Cillian Murphy on the red carpet about why Steve is so important.

Special guests

Saf Ahmed and Emanuel De Pina attended the event with us. They support young people every day as part of their work with The Circle, a project run by Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing & Hounslow Mind.

This is a safe space for children and young people who are finding it hard to cope with their mental health.

Mind volunteer, Haleem Clift and Marcus Skeet, aka Hull Boy, 17, who raised more than £160,000 for Mind, also attended.

Watch our coverage on Instagram

• We interview writer Max Porter on the red carpet at the Steve premiere.
• We speak to director Tim Mielants about vulnerability.
• Mind supporter Jordan Stephens interviews Cillian Murphy and Max Porter.
• We interview actor Jay Lycurgo (who plays character Shy) on the red carpet.

The impact of underfunding

Steve is a powerful demonstration of the way young people who have been repeatedly failed by systems can have different outcomes with the right support at the right time.

It also shows how years of underfunding have led to a deepening crisis for young people since the era in which the film is set, with 1 in 5 young people now experiencing a mental health problem each year.

Mind's support

Every day, our network of nearly 100 local Minds supports young people experiencing family breakdown, poverty, housing insecurity, racism and other forms of discrimination, abuse, and disengagement from education or employment.

How we support young people through our network of local Minds:

• Support for parents and care givers
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Mentoring and outreach programmes
• Crisis intervention and safeguarding
• Creative and skills-based workshops

Creating spaces for honest conversation

Emanuel De Pina, a community advisor at a local Mind in London, who attended the Steve premiere said:

"In my work I encounter many young men who feel trapped by expectations of strength, by lack of safe spaces to express vulnerability, by societal neglect.

"Steve brings out how institutional failure, emotional burden, and lack of support exacerbate mental health struggles. It reinforces for me why creating spaces for honest conversation, emotional safety, and relationship-based care is so important."

Campaigning for young people

At a national level, Mind is also campaigning for change for young people. We are calling on the government to prioritise:

• A full national roll out of Young Futures Hubs, so young people can access support at the heart of communities
• Better access to NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and an end to long waiting times
• Fast roll out of Mental Health Support Teams in schools

Our staff and volunteers are working under increasing pressure, with rising demand for services and pressure on funding and resources. Mind remains committed to being a lifeline for young people.

If you want to change the story for young people’s mental health, become a campaigner.

Ways to get involved