Young people and health

The Young People’s Health Partnership (YPHP) has been asked by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to map the reach of the youth sector in terms of the extent in which youth organisations could and are already engaged in health and social care issues, structures and advocacy.

YPHP is a consortium of organisations working with the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England as strategic partners to raise the profile of the health agenda across the voluntary youth sector, championing young people’s health needs whilst providing a conduit for youth organisations, the state and young people to work towards reducing health inequalities. The partnership is led by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services and includes Addaction, Association of Young People’s Health, Brook, CLIC Sargent, StreetGames and Youth Access. 

The partnership aim to use the research to improve access to funding and advocacy opportunities for their members and wider youth groups, and to help the partnership make a stronger case for the vital role youth organisations play in health and social care with national partners.

To take part in the research complete the questionnaire at www.ncvys.org.uk/youth-sector-engagement-in-health.

Young Minds published a report to mark World Mental Health Day on the increasing pressures which young people are facing. The year-long research asked 5,600 young people about key issues which affect their mental health, including bullying, stress at school, anxiety, and the impact of online pornography. Key points included that:

• 85 percent of young people affected by bullying said they want support for as long as they need it so the bullying stops affecting their lives;
• 83 wanted everyone who works in schools to know how to spot the signs a young person is struggling and how best to help them;
• 82 percent said schools should prepare pupils for life, not just exams, by teaching them how to cope when life is tough;
• 75 percent said they want sex education in schools that gives them the chance to talk about sex and relationships; and
• 72 percent want unemployed young people to get help to deal with the stress and upset caused by being out of work.

To download the full report visit www.youngminds.org.uk/assets/0001/5757/YM_Vs_Party_Conference_Report.pdf

The Mental Health Foundation has published a guide aimed at those who commission mental health and wellbeing services for young people, which can be downloaded at http://mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-guide-three.

Produced by Time to Change, The Kid and I and its accompanying pack aim to enable teachers and youth leaders to work with and engage pupils and young people with the topic of mental health and mental health problems. It is an interactive story and learning tool to help young people address mental health stigma and discrimination. For further information and to download the resource visit www.time-to-change.org.uk/node/84739.