YPMH has been instrumental in how we approach early intervention. Their collaborative, evidence-based approach has given our staff a clearer framework to support students earlier and more effectively.
Director
Partner
About us
Connecting science and solutions to improve young people’s mental health
The William Templeton Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health (YPMH) is an independent UK charity working to reduce the prevalence and impact of mental health conditions in young people — from early adolescence through early adulthood.
YPMH connects research, innovation and practice to accelerate better prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment, particularly for conditions like depression and anxiety. By strengthening collaboration and supporting innovation, the charity aims to improve outcomes and help more young people live mentally healthier lives.
Founded by Anne and Peter Templeton, and their son John, in memory of Will Templeton, YPMH was created to connect excellent research with real-world solutions. Our goal is to close the gap between what science knows and what helps young people, and those who support them, prevent and reduce mental ill health.
Our vision and mission
We are working towards a future where:
- Fewer young people develop mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
- Young people are supported to build resilience and maintain good mental
wellbeing - Fewer young people take their own lives
To achieve this, we support work that:
- Builds deeper understanding of the factors and mechanisms of mental health, conditions in young people, and how they are linked
- Equips young people, families and professionals with practical tools and evidence-based knowledge
- Encourages joined-up, whole-person approaches to
mental health across health, education and community settings
How we're different
YPMH is not a frontline service or helpline provider. Instead, we focus on transforming the system that supports young people’s mental health.
While many mental health charities provide direct services, our work is centred on reducing the number of young people who reach crisis point in the first place. By improving understanding, accelerating innovation, and supporting implementation, we aim to ease pressure on the NHS and education systems, and help young people access effective support earlier in life.
Our approach is distinct:
- We don’t offer a helpline — we help strengthen the systems behind care
- We don’t focus on one stage — we connect research, innovation and real-world practice to improve prevention, early detection, diagnosis, management and treatment
- We don’t wait for change — we help make it happen faster.
Our story and leadership
YPMH is led by Peter Templeton, who brings decades of experience in applying research and innovation to real-world challenges. For 15 years, Peter led a University of Cambridge knowledge transfer company that partnered globally to apply insights from the Institute for Manufacturing. Under his leadership, the company became commercially self-sustaining and gifted over £4 million to support academic research.
YPMH is governed by a board of trustees with expertise spanning medical practice, systems innovation, charitable governance, family law and financial management.
Lets work together
We partner with organisations that share our goal: to reduce the prevalence and impact of mental ill-health in young people. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, health practitioner, organisation, funder or innovator, we’re always keen to explore ways to collaborate.