Agenda item
Community Intelligence: Healthwatch Perspective - Young Peoples Mental Health
The Health and Wellbeing Board is recommended to:
· Promote to young people the need to care for their mental as well as their physical wellbeing
· Work with schools as an access point to empower parents and families to promote good wellbeing for young people.
· Involve children and young people in co-producing a peer led health and wellbeing campaign to:
· raise awareness of the importance of looking after your physical and mental health.
· tackle the stigma around mental health.
· tackle issues like exam pressure, bullying and family pressures.
· build on existing resources and activities in other areas.
Lead for item: Dianne Barham, Healthwatch Tower Hamlets
Minutes:
The Board heard that research had been undertaken to survey young people to better understand their awareness levels and attitudes towards mental health, and gather suggestions on how best to tackle issues related to young people and mental health. Healthwatch Youth Panellists received training through the Community Intelligence Bursary process to become peer researchers and undertake the fieldwork research.
It was noted that young people have greater access to their peers so they are in the best position to conduct this research. They had surveyed a total of 237 young people across LBTH aged between 15 and 24 years old. The main points of the discussion on this item are outlined as follows:
The Board noted that:
- More teenage young men had stated that mental health was an important issue to them than men aged over 20 years. Whilst the opposite trend can be seen for female respondents;
- The vast majority of young people were unaware of both the national and local mental health services available to them. Aside from GPs, hospitals, Childline and Talk to Frank, awareness of other services that were presented to respondents was extremely low. The Board therefore felt that regular workshops should be arranged so as to raise awareness of the strategies to challenge stressful situations;
- The biggest factor that may deter them from seeking support after experiencing mental health issues was the stigma (41%) attached to mental health illnesses, and fearing the possible adverse reaction of their loved ones (16%) if they were to discuss mental health issues with them;
- Twenty one percent of those surveyed stated that simply not knowing where to receive support would be a barrier for them in trying to access help;
- Noted that the issues outlined in this report would be addressed through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Transformation Plan, The Board also wanted to see closer working between Healthwatch and the Children in Care Council;
- Noted that referring to people with ‘mental health’ often is a barrier to tackling the stigma of mental health and that ‘wellbeing’ should be more pronounced in our conversations.
- Noted that Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board had produced a video addressing health and well being aimed at providing advice to young people;
- More use should be made of social media to provide advice digitally on where to access services;
As a result of consideration on this report the Board :
RESOLVED –
- To promote to young people the need to care for their mental as well as their physical wellbeing (e.g. through working in partnership with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; Healthwatch and the Children in Care Council);
- To work with schools as an access point to empower parents and families to promote good wellbeing for young people; and
- To involve children and young people in co-producing a peer led health and wellbeing campaign to:
1. Raise awareness of the importance of looking after your physical and mental health;
2. Tackle the stigma around mental health;
3. Tackle issues like exam pressure, bullying and family pressures;
4. Build on existing resources and activities in other areas.
Supporting documents: