Post on 21-May-2020
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CentralBedfordshireYouthParliament
PromotingapositiveapproachtoMentalHealth&WellbeinginYoungPeople
ReportofCentralBedfordshireYoungPerson’sMentalHealthsurvey
August2017
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TableofContentsRecommendations............................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................5Background................................................................................................................................5ResearchMethod&Limitations..................................................................................................6
KeyFindings......................................................................................................................7QuantitativeData.......................................................................................................................7QualitativeData.........................................................................................................................7
RecommendationsinFull................................................................................................10Recommendation1-Step-up,Step-downSystem–Wellbeinggroups......................................10Recommendation2-PeerSupportNetwork.............................................................................11Recommendation3–ParentSupportSystem...........................................................................12Recommendation4–Male“BreaktheStigma”Campaign........................................................12
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................14
Bibliography....................................................................................................................14
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Recommendations
Recommendation1-AStep-Up,Step-DownSystem(MinimumStandardsofCare)
TheCBYPrecommendsasystemthatallowsyoungpeopletobecaredforaftertheyhavemadeanyconcernsabouttheirmentalhealthknown.45%ofyoungpeoplestatedthatthehelptheyreceivedeitherdidnothelporonlypartiallyhelpedandmanyindividuallyexpressedthattheybelievedthatthewaittoreceiveanyhelpwastoolong.Theyalsofeltthattheyhadbeenforgottenaboutorthatthenumberofsessionstheyreceivedwasnotenough.Thoughweunderstandthatthereisacertainlimittotheamountofmoneywhichcanbespent,webelievethatintroducingasystemthatallowsindividualstoreceivelowerlevelsofhelpwouldbenefitthem.
Weareproposingasystemthatallowstheyoungpersontoreceivehelpbeforeandafterundergoingtherapyorcounselling.Todosowesuggestcreatingwellbeinggroupsthatregularlymeet,allowingthemtobewithotheryoungpeopleinsimilarsituationsandtohaveaplacewheretheycanshareanyissues.Thesegroupswouldutiliseexistingresources(suchasyouthandcommunitycentres)andwouldbefocusedonaparticularactivity(forexample,sportorart)todeliverasteadysourceofhelp.
Thesegroupswouldmeanthattheyoungpersoniskeptaneyeonaftervoicingaconcern(beforereceivingthehelptheymayneed)andafter(whentheymaystillnotbecompletelyreadytofacetheworld).Itwouldmeantheyarenotabandonedandtheywouldnotbeabletoslipbackintooldhabits.
Recommendation2-PeerSupportNetwork
Inresponseto24%ofyoungpeoplestatingthattheywouldliketohavesupportavailablefrompeopletheirownageassupport,werecommendthecreationofanetworkofyoungpeopleineachschoolwhowouldbeavailableforayoungpersontoexpressanyconcernsabouttheirmentalhealth(orsomebodyelse’s).
Thiswouldbeagroupofyoungpeople,trainedtodistinguishbetweenyoungpeoplewhomayhaveseriousissuesandthosewhoaresimplyhavingabadday.Theywouldmeetwithanadult(whowouldbeoverseeingtheschool’sgroup)regularlytoreportbackonconversationsanddiscusswhattodonextforeachpupil.
Eachpersoninthisnetworkwouldalsoalwayshavetheopportunitytodiscussanyissuestheywerehavingthemselves(asawayto“offload”).
Recommendation3-ParentSupportSystem
Inresponseto45%ofyoungpeoplestatingtheywouldgotoafamilymemberiftheywerestrugglingwithamentalhealthissue,theCBYPbelievethatparentsshouldalsobeabletoreceivesupport.
Thiscouldinclude:theopportunitytogotosupportgroupsforparents/carersofachildwithmentalhealthissues;trainingtospotthesignsofmentalhealthissues;trainingonhowtorespondiftheir
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childdoesdiscloseamentalhealthproblemtheyarefacing;resourcesand/oranadvisorspecificallyforparentswhocanadvisewhotospeaktoandwhocanprovidehelpfortheirchild.
Recommendation4-Male“BreaktheStigma”Campaign
TheCBYPalsoreceivedcommentsfromalargenumberofmaleswhofounditparticularlydifficulttoopenupduetotheamountofstigmaaroundmentalhealth.Thisisreflectedinthenationalnumberofmalesuicides.Oursuggestionisthatacampaigniscreatedtotargetyoungmalestoencouragethemtotalkabouttheirproblems.Wefeelthattheissueofthelargenumberofsuicidesstemsfromgrowingupbelievingthattheyshouldn’ttalkaboutanyissuestheymayhave,andifthisisstigmaisdiminishedearlieroninlifewemaybeabletodecreasethisnumber.
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IntroductionThereporthasbeencompiledfromasurveyof1,254youngpeople(aged11-18)livingorattendingschoolinCentralBedfordshire.Withinthisreportwewillhighlightthemainresultsandkeyinformationofthesurvey,beforediscussingsomesolutionsandfinallymakingsomerecommendationsforthedevelopmentoftheMentalHealthservicesforyoungpeople.Thesurveywascreatedbyyoungpeopleandtherecommendationshavebeencreatedinconsultationwithyoungpeople.
BackgroundMentalHealthhasbeenanagendaitemforYouthParliamentforthepastfewyears;from2013,ithasappearedontheMakeYourMarkballotpaper(theUK’slargestconsultationforyoungpeople).InCentralBedfordshire,ithasconsistentlybeenvotedasoneofthetop5issuesbylocalyoungpeople,pollingfirstin2015.AlthoughMentalHealthdidn’tappearfirstin2016(itcameinthird)ontheMakeYourMarkballotinCentralBedfordshire,theYouthParliamentunanimouslyvotedthattheywantedtocontinuetheworkofYouthParliamentonthisissueforanotheryear.TheYouthParliamentfeltthatbecausementalhealthhasbeenaconsistentproblemidentifiedbyyoungpeopleforanumberofyears,plusthecurrentattentionandawarenessthatmentalhealthisreceivingfrombothfrompoliticiansandinthemedia;theycouldstilldomoreonthiscampaign.
ThemembersresearchedmentalhealthtodiscoveriftherewasaspecificwayinwhichtheYouthParliamentcouldtargettheircampaign.Membersspokewiththeirpeers,spokewithmentalhealthprofessionals(MindBLMKandELFT),andcarriedoutsomeindependentresearchtotrytoidentifyhowtheYouthParliamentcouldhelpwiththeissueofmentalhealth.Itwasquicklyevidentthatmentalhealthisanationalproblemwiththelatestestimatessuggestingthatatleast1in10youngpeoplewilldevelopamentalhealthissueintheUK1,andtheGoodChildhoodReportstatingthat10%ofyoungpeopleare“Languishing”–havinglowscoresforbothsubjectivewell-beingandpsychologicalwell-being.2
Furthermore,locallytheSHUEsurveyconductedin2015revealedthatyoungpeopleinCentralBedfordshirehaveaparticularlylowresiliencescore.Inaddition,theconversationsbetweenthemembers,theirpeers,andlocalprofessionalorganisationsrevealedyoungpeopleoftenfindthatservicesareoftennotsuitable,thattheyoungpeopledon’tmeetthecriteria,thattherearelongwaitinglists,theycan’taccessthemwithoutmissingschoolorcollege,andtheycan’taccessthemconfidentially.
InviewofthisthemembersagreedasurveyshouldbeconductedspecificallyaimedatyoungpeopleinCentralBedfordshiretoidentifywhatspecificissuesyoungpeoplearefacinginrelationtomentalhealthwithinCentralBedfordshire.Thissurveywasintendedtogetanideaofhoweffectivethecurrentmentalhealthservicesare,whatsupportisavailabletoyoungpeoplestrugglingwithstressoresteemissues,andhowsupportoptionscouldbeimproved,particularlyforyoungpeoplewith
1MentalHealthFoundation,“Peer-ledsupporttohelpyoungpeoplelookaftertheirmentalhealth”GoodMentalHealthforall,(November2013)Retrievedfrom.https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/news/peer-led-support-help-young-people-look-after-their-mental-health2TheChildren’sSociety,“TheGoodChildhoodReport2016Summary”(2016):pg.3
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“low-level”(tier1and2)mentalhealthproblems.ThemembersformedaworkingpartnershipwithMINDBLMKtoproducethissurveysothatthesurveycouldhaveprofessionalguidancegiventhenatureofthetopic.
ResearchMethod&LimitationsThestudyusedquestionnaireswhichtargetedyoungpeopleinschoolsaroundCentralBedfordshire.Thequestionnairewasdesignedonline(onSurveyMonkey)butwasavailabletobeprintedforeaseofaccess.DatacollectiontookplacebetweenFebruaryandMay2017.Themain2methodsofdatacollectionwerethroughyoungpeoplerequestingtheirschoolstopartakeinthequestionnairebyspendingafewminuteswithintheirformtimetofillinthesurvey,andbyCentralBedfordshireYouthWorkersvisitingsomeschoolsatlunchtimestoaskyoungpeopletocompletehardcopies.
AllSecondary,Middle,andUpperschoolsinCentralBedfordshirewerecontactedtoaskaboutparticipationinthesurvey.Allpupilsparticipatedbasedonanonymous,voluntaryinformedconsentandthetotalparticipantsnumbered1,254.WhilsttheYouthParliamenthopedformoreengagementthisdidprovideagoodcross-sectionofyoungpeopleacrossCentralBedfordshirewithagoodbalanceofage,gender,andlocationandthisisasubstantialresponsetoinformanyrecommendations.
Duetothenatureofaquestionnaireformatmostoftheinformationcollectedisquantitative,however,therewasspacegivenatregularintervalsthroughoutthesurveyfortheparticipantstoprovidemorequalitativedata.Thesetwomethodshaveprovidedagoodbasistoinformanyrecommendations.However,thereisfurtherscopeformorequalitativedatatobecollectedtocontinuetoinformtheimplementationoftherecommendations–particularlythroughasteeringgroup.
Afurtherconsideration,tothosehighlightedalready,whendrawinganyconclusionsbasedonthisresearchisthe“noresponse”withinparticularquestions.Thisparticularlyappearedwithinthequestionof“Wouldyouknowwheretogoorwhotoask[aboutmentalhealth]?”inwhich57%ofyoungpeopledidn’trespond;whilstthismayindicatethatyoungpeopledon’tknowandthereforehaven’tansweredthequestion,astheyoungpeoplehaven’trespondedwecan’tdrawthatconclusion.Therefore,wewouldsuggestthattheremaybeopportunityforsomefurtherresearchtofindoutifyoungpeoplearefamiliarwiththeprocessesinrelationtomentalhealth,feelconfidentinthoseprocesses,andwouldknowhowinformationmightbeusedorsharediftheydisclosedamentalhealthissue.
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KeyFindingsSomeofthekeyinformationfromthedatacollected(availableinfullbelow)isasfollows:
QuantitativeDataNumberofyoungpeoplereportingexperienceofMentalHealthProblems
Asstatedatthetopofthispaper,thecurrentnationalstatisticformentalhealthestimatesthat1in10youngpeoplewilldevelopmentalhealthdifficultiesatsomestage.However,ourdatareportsthat27%(206)ofyoungpeoplehaveexperiencedmentalhealthproblemswhichequatestoover1in4youngpeople;ahugeincreaseonthenationalaverage.
Thenumberofyoungpeoplereceivingnohelp
Ofthe206youngpeoplereportingtohaveexperiencedsomedifficultywithmentalhealth,113havenotreceivedanyformalhelp.
Youngpeoplearerecognisingothersstrugglingwithmentalhealth
45%ofyoungpeoplehavereportedtheyhaveseenotherpeoplestrugglingwithmentalhealth;thiscouldbepeers,family,orothers.Youngpeoplewhorecognisethestrugglesofothersarealsopredisposedtohelpwith60%offeringsomehelpandsupporttothatpersonthroughapproachingthem.
Lackofgoodsupportnetworksforyoungpeople
Whilstmostyoungpeople(88%)havereportedthatiftheyarehavingabaddaythereissomeformofsupportavailabletothem,12%(141)ofyoungpeopledon’tbelievetheyhaveanysupportiftheyarehavingabadday.
Importanceoffriendsandfamily
Whenaskedwhoyoungpeoplewouldspeaktoiftheywerestruggling,33.8%wouldspeaktoafriendand31.9%wouldspeaktotheirmumordad.Furthermore,whenaskedwhatsupporttheybelievedshouldbeavailable,19.4%wouldlikesupportfromsomeonetheirownage.
QualitativeDataThefollowingaresomeofthequotesthathavebeenpulledfromthesurveysandgroupedbytheme:
LackofContinuedSupportandaplan:
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“Thecounsellorwasawfulandwasthenchangedbytheschool,andIwasnevercalledbackforanotherappointment”
“…Therewasnolong-termplanandIsoonslippedbackintooldhabits”
“Ithinktheservicesthatareavailableneedtobegreatlyimproved,it’snotdowntoschools,Ithinkmostoftheschoolsdowhattheycan.Itistheexternalservicesthatareahugeletdownthatareunsupported,unwelcomingandoverworked”
“…Ididn’tfeelIcouldopenupfullyaboutmyissues,asIwasn’tsurewhatsupportwouldbegiventomeafter”
“WasfantasticwhenIhadit[Chumssupport],butnowit’sworseIhaven’tgottenhelpagain”
“Sometimestheystopitforthetimebeing,however,itdoesn’tstopcompletely”
Waitingtimesaretoolong
“Ididnotbenefitfromprivatecounsellingbuttherewasnowayofgettinghelpfrom[the]Samaritansbecauseofthelengthywaitinglist!Theschoolservicewasonlyonceaweekandslightlyhelped”
“…CAMHisclearlyunderfundedanddischargedmewellbeforeIwasready”
“…stfrancis[sic]isn’treallyworkingandwithCAMHtheyhavetakenawhiletogetanappointmentsorted,ittookafewmonthsformetoseethemsincetheyassessedmeandlabled[sic]meas[a]mediumrisk”
“Iwasrejectedhelpbythecouncillors[sic]inschool”
“Wouldhavelikedtoreceivesupportsooner”
UncomfortablespeakingtoaCounsellor
“They[theschoolcounsellor]wereunfriendly,patronisingandmademefeelselfconsciousanduncomfortable”
“Ipersonallywouldn’topenuptoastranger”
Youngpeopleneedsomeonetheycantrustthatwillcontinuetohelp
“Iaskedforsupportanditwasgivenandtheysaidanotherappointmentwouldbemadebutitneverwasmade.Ididn’tmentionittoanyoneandjustignoredit”
“Peopleshouldbetaughthowtohandleitwhenafriendisstrugglingaspeopledon’tknowwhattodo”
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“Thecounsellorsentmeawaybecauseshefoundmedifficulttoopenup”
“Supportshouldn’tbeforcedonyoungpeopleandtrustneedstobeformedbetweenpeoplethatapersongoestosupportto[sic]”
“Ihaven’treceivedanysupportbutIhavetriedtotalktopeople(likemymum)andshedoesn’tlisten”
“No16-year-old(particularlyboys)wanttogoandtalktoa40-year-oldworkerorcounselloremployedbytheschool.Ladsneedtellingfromayoungagethatweneedtotalktoeachotheraboutstuffwithoutbeinglabelledasunmanlyorgay”
Toomuchstressandpressureatschool
“Maybeadultsshouldnotice.Andperhapsrealisethatweneedemotionalsupportratherthanjusteducational”
“Teacherstellusthatourmentalwellbeingisimportantandweshouldn’tstressourselvesouttoomuch,butIfeeltheydon’ttrulybelievewhattheysayandtheyputtoomuchpressureonustoget‘good’grades(Ihave,inthepast,beenupsetoverBgrades)”
“…beingadisabledpersonandapersonofotherminorities,itisliterallytorturetobeatschooloften…they[thegovernment]punishmyparentsifIcan’tgotoschoolandstruggletogetoutofbed–becauseI’mnotpracticallydying,Ihavetobeinschool,wherethedifficultylevelsaregettingharderandharder”
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RecommendationsinFull
Recommendation1-Step-up,Step-downSystem–WellbeinggroupsOneofthekeyfindingswithinthesurveyisthenumberofyoungpeoplereportingtohaveexperienceddifficultieswithmentalhealth;27%-over1in4-youngpeoplecomparedtothenationalestimatedaverageof1in10.Oftheseitisnotablethatoverhalfhavenotreceivedanyformalhelporsupportfortheirreportedstruggle.Whilstthereisn’tanyquantitativedatafromoursurveywhichrevealswhythistrendisapparent(andperhapsthereisscopeforfurtherresearchtobedonearoundthis),onewouldpresumethatthereisacombinationofreasonsforthis(backed-upbysomeofthequalitativedatareceived).Partofthereasonforthistrendisduetothestrainonthecurrentserviceswhichmeansthattherecanbelongwaitinglists;
“Ididnotbenefitfromprivatecounsellingbuttherewasnowayofgettinghelpfrom[the]Samaritansbecauseofthelengthywaitinglist!”
High“qualifying”needtoaccesstheservice;
“Iwasrejectedhelpbythecouncillors[sic]inschool”
Andalimitedtimespanonthelengthofintervention:
“…CAMHisclearlyunderfundedanddischargedmewellbeforeIwasready”
Partofthereasonisbecausesomeyoungpeopledon’tfeelcomfortableopeninguptoastranger:
“Ipersonallywouldn’topenuptoastranger”
Andpartofthereasonwillbedowntopersonalandmentalhealthcomplexities;therearesomeyoungpeoplethatworryabouttheinformationbeingshared:
“…eventhose[adults]youtrustwilltellothersiftheythinkitisnecessary”
Andsomewhostruggletoopenuptoanyoneabouttheissue:
“Maybeadultsshouldnotice.Andperhapsrealisethatweneedemotionalsupport…”
Inadditiontothenumberofyoungpeoplenotreceivinganyhelp,theyoungpeoplethathavereceivedformalsupporthighlightedtheissueofcontinualsupport.Currentlytheserviceisonlyabletoofferamaximumofsixsessionswithacounsellor,however,followingthosesessionsyoungpeoplehavefeltthattherewasn’tanyfurthersupportofferedtothemunlesstheirmentalhealthproblemsprogressedagain:
“…Therewasnolong-termplanandIsoonslippedbackintooldhabits”
“…Ididn’tfeelIcouldopenupfullyaboutmyissues,asIwasn’tsurewhatsupportwouldbegiventomeafter”
“WasfantasticwhenIhadit[Chumssupport],butnowit’sworseIhaven’tgottenhelpagain”
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Therefore,itseemsapparentthatthereisaneedforaspaceinwhichyoungpeoplecanmeetandreceivesomesupportiftheyarestrugglingwithmentalhealthandwhichyoungpeoplecanstep-upandstep-downintowhilsttheywaitformoreintensivesupport,oncethey’vefinishedreceivingcounselling,oriftheydon’t“qualify”formoreintensivesupport.ByutilisingcurrentservicesavailabletotheCounciltherecouldbeaseriesof“wellbeinggroups”setupwithinthecurrentyouthcentresandstaffedbythecommissionedyouthworkers,ifgivensomespecialisttrainingandsupport,wherebyyoungpeoplethatarewaitingformentalhealthservices,whohavefinishedwithmentalhealthservices,orwhodon’tqualifyformentalhealthservicescouldmeettoengageinpositiveactivitiese.g.art,drama,sport,etc.andsupportoneanotherunderthefacilitationofatrainedyouthworker.
Recommendation2-PeerSupportNetworkThedatacollectedhighlightstheimportantroleoffriendsandfamilyinsupportingyoungpeoplestrugglingwithmentalhealthissueswith626youngpeoplereportingthattheycurrentlytalktofriendsiftheyarehavingdifficulties,and332youngpeoplesuggestingthatpeersupportshouldbemadeavailabletohelpyoungpeoplewhomaybestruggling.Byintroducingaformalisedpeersupportnetworkinschools,itwouldalsohelpthe12%ofyoungpeoplewhoreportedthattheycurrentlydon’thaveanysupportiftheyarehavingabadday.
Furthermore,whenyoungpeoplewereaskedabouthowtheymightsupportothersthatarestruggling,noyoungpeoplesuggestedreferringthemtoanyservices(although8.9%saidtheywouldseekadvicefromothers).Althoughyoungpeoplemaybecomfortabletalkingtotheirpeersiftheyarestrugglingwithmentalhealth,theirpeersmaynotbewellenoughinformedandequippedtosupportthem,particularlyifitisamoreseriousmentalhealthissue.Therefore,ifaformalpeersupportnetworkwasimplementedyoungpeoplecouldbemoreconfidentthattheadviceandguidancethattheirpeersofferedwasgoingtobebetterinformed,asthe“mentalhealthchampions”wouldbegiventrainingandsupportinordertodotheirrole.
ThroughtrainingyoungpeopleandcreatinganidentifiablepeersupportsystemwithintheschoolsinCentralBedfordshire,wewillbeutilisingtheexistingsocialnetworksandsupportsystemsthatyoungpeopleuse,andcreatingsomesupportsystemsforyoungpeoplewhodon’thavestrongsocialnetworkstodependon.Indoingthiswecanaddresssomeoftheissuesraisedbyyoungpeople,suchasbuildingtrust:
“Supportshouldn’tbeforcedonyoungpeopleandtrustneedstobeformedbetweenpeoplethatapersongoestosupportto[sic]”
Receivingsupportfromsomeoneclosertotheyoungpeople’sage:
“No16yearold(particularlyboys)wantstogoandtalktoa40yearoldworkerorcounselloremployedbytheschool”
Andsupportingyoungpeopletohelpothers:
“Peopleshouldbetaughthowtohandleitwhenafriendisstrugglingaspeopledon’tknowwhattodo”
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Whilstapeersupportnetworkwouldn’tbeadequateforyoungpeopleexperiencingseriousmentalhealthdifficulties(tier3and4),thenetworkcouldbestructuredsothattheyoungpeoplewouldbeabletorefertheseriouscaseson.Thismightalleviatesomeofthecurrentpressuresontheservicesandgosomewaytohelpingyoungpeoplefeelacontinuedsupportbeforeandafteranycounselling,whilstthosethatneedlessformalsupportwhentheywerestrugglingcouldaccessthissupportwhentheyneededit,tohelppreventsomeinstancesescalating.Forinstance;whenyoungpeoplearefeelingoverburdenedwithinschoolpressuresassummarisedinthiscomment:
“Teacherstellusthatourmentalwellbeingisimportantandweshouldn’tstressourselvesouttoomuch,butIfeeltheydon’ttrulybelievewhattheysayandtheyputtoomuchpressureonustoget‘good’grades(Ihave,inthepast,beenupsetoverBgrades)”
Byhavingotheryoungpeoplewhoidentifywiththisissue,theyoungpeoplewouldbeabletosharetheirproblemwitha“MentalHealthChampion”andwithinthatspaceincreasetheirresiliencetothesestressesandpressure.
Recommendation3–ParentSupportSystemAshighlightedpreviously,oneofthemaincurrentsupportsystemsforyoungpeopleistheirfriendsandfamily.31.9%(591)ofyoungpeoplesaidthattheywouldgototheirparents(mumordad)iftheywerestruggling,whilst27.9%ofyoungpeoplesaidthatthey’dliketoreceivesupportfromanadultofferinghelp–whilstthisisnotdirectlysuggestingaparentitcouldincludethem.
Wehaven’tconductedasurveywithparentsandwouldstronglyrecommendthisasfurtherresearchtobeconducted.However,fromsomeofourqualitativedataitisapparentthattheremaybeaneedforfurthersupportandadvicetobemadeavailabletoparents:
“Ihaven’treceivedanysupportbutIhavetriedtotalktopeople(likemymum)andshedoesn’tlisten”
Thissupportandadvicecouldbeassimpleashostingsupportgroupsforparentswithchildrensufferingwithpoormentalhealth,inwhichparentscouldsharesomeoftheirstruggleswithothersexperiencingsimilarsituations.Withinthiscontexttheparentscouldalsobeofferedsometraining,advice,andsignposting,tohelpensurethattheyoungpeoplewerereceivingtheappropriatesupport.Inthisway,wecouldutilisetheyoungpeople’salreadyestablishedsupportnetworksandensurethatparentsweresupportedtohelptheirchildren,asmentalhealthandthementalhealthsupportstructurecanoftenbeconfusinganddauntingtoanyonewhohasnopriorexperienceorunderstandingofmentalhealth.
Recommendation4–Male“BreaktheStigma”CampaignFromsomeoftheresults,andinparticularsomecommentsfromthesurvey,itbecameapparentthatamentalhealthcampaignfocusedonyoungmaleswouldbeuseful.Thisissuewasidentifiedbyacoupleofyoungmalerespondents,withonerespondentcommenting:
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“…Ladsneedtellingfromayoungagethatweneedtotalktoeachotheraboutstuffwithoutbeinglabelledasunmanlyorgay”
Thisideaisfurtherbackedupbytheresultswhenbrokendownintogender,with30%ofmalesreportingthattheywouldtalkwiththeirfriendsiftheywerestruggling,comparedto36%offemales.Furthermore,theissueofthe“GenderParadox”,whichresultsinadisproportionatenumberofmalesuicideseveryyear,hasbeenwelldocumented.OnearticleonthesubjectoftheGenderParadoxwrites:
“…menandwomenequallysufferproblems,equallyconsidersuicide.Butitisculturallyacceptableforwomentotalkaboutproblemsandaskforhelp,butnotformen”3
Therefore,atargetedcampaignfocussingonyoungmaleswouldappeartobeimportant.Thecampaignshouldfocusonencouragingyoungmentotalkabouttheirfeelingswiththeirfriendsandtonotbeafraidofaskingforhelp.
3Powell,Jane(2015)‘TheGenderParadoxofSuicidalBehaviourandWhyWeCan’tAddresstheIssue’,HuffPostUK,31March,Availableat:http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jane-powell/male-suicide-rate_b_6562478.html(accessed1August2017)
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ConclusionWemustlistentothevoiceofyoungpeopleandprovideearlyhelptopreventthecurrenttrendofmentalhealthcrisisinyoungpeople.
Whilstweacceptthatthissurveyhassomelimitations,itundoubtedlyisastrongsamplethatrepresentsthevoiceofyoungpeopleacrossCentralBedfordshire,andthereforewebelievethattherecommendationsofthisreportshouldbeahighpriorityforCentralBedfordshireCouncil.WebelievethatthementalhealthservicesforyoungpeopleinCentralBedfordshirecanbeimprovedbyour4recommendations:a“step-up,step-down”system,apeersupportsystem,parentalsupport,andacampaigntargetedatmales.Theserecommendationsshouldsupport,andnotreplace,thecurrentserviceprovisioninCentralBedfordshire.
TherecommendationsofthisreportdorequiresomeinvestmentfromtheCouncil,however,theprimarycommitmentwillbeintimeandresourcesratherthan“new”money.GiventhecurrentcostofmentalhealthtotheCouncil,iftherecommendationscouldoffer“earlyhelp”toyoungpeople,andtherebypreventsomeinstancesfromdevelopingtheinvestmentmadebytheCouncilwouldberepaidinkind.AssuchwewouldstronglyencouragetheCounciltoinvestgoodqualityresourcestotheserecommendations,includingpersonnel,expertise,buildingsandequipment,andwhererequired,money.
Thereporthasbeencreatedbyyoungpeopleandisbasedontheviewsofyoungpeopleandwebelievethattherecommendationswillbettertheservicesavailable.ItwouldbeourrecommendationthatiftheCouncilshouldinvestintherecommendationsofthisreportthatitshouldcontinuetobeyoungpersonled,sothatyoungpeoplewilloverseeandassesstheundertakingoftherecommendations.
BibliographyTheChildren’sSociety,“TheGoodChildhoodReport2016Summary”(2016)
MentalHealthFoundation,“Peer-ledsupporttohelpyoungpeoplelookaftertheirmentalhealth”GoodMentalHealthforall,(November2013)Retrievedfrom.https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/news/peer-led-support-help-young-people-look-after-their-mental-health
Powell,Jane(2015)‘TheGenderParadoxofSuicidalBehaviourandWhyWeCan’tAddresstheIssue’,HuffPostUK,31March,Availableat:http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jane-powell/male-suicide-rate_b_6562478.html(accessed1August2017)
Appendix
iAppen
143
210241
164
117
49
10
15%
22% 26%
18%
13%
5%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
13 14 15 16 17 18 18+ 13 14 15 16 17 18 18+
AgeGroup
486665
23
41% 57%
2% 0% 20% 40% 60%
0
500
1000
Male Female NoResponse
Male Female NoResponse
Gender
84.9%
4.7% 3.8% 2.1% 1.5% 1.1% 0.7% 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% 0.1% 0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Ethnicity
Appendix
iii
27.8%
18.9%
14.4%
11.2%
10.9%
10.5%
4.8%
0.7%
0.5%
0.2%
0.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
EtonburyAcademyBrooklandsMiddle
HarlingtonUpperSchoolMansheadUpperSchool
AllSaintsAcademyHoughtonRegisAcademy
VandykeUpperSchoolCedarsUpperSchool
BedfordCollegeAylesburyCollege
BiggleswadeAcademy
School
Yes19027%
No
50572%
NoResponse81%
ExperiencedMentalHealthProblems
Appendix
iv
Family12,4%
Doctor14,5%
CamHS8,3%
Chums7,3%
School22,8%
Yesbutnotdisclosed
11239%
NoHelpRecieved
10938% Other
6323%
Whathelpdidyourecieve?
Yes2623%
No
1715%
Partially54%
NoResponse6658%
Didthesupporthelp?
Appendix
vAppen
99921%
Childline21%
Counsellor124%
Family13545%
MedicalExpert3311%
TrustedPerson134%
Friend
21%
School8227% NoResponse
196%
Other5017%
Wherewouldyougo?
Yes2623%
No
1715%
Partially54%
NoResponse6658%
Wouldyouknowwheretogoorwhotoask?
Appendix
vi
Yes35972%
No
13928%
Wouldyoufeelconfidentaskingforhelp?
0.1%
52.2%
0.2%
0.7%
46.8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Don'tKnow
NoResponse
Wouldnotofferhelp
Seekadvicefromothers
Talktotheperson
Howwouldyouhelp?
Appendix
vii
Yes40662%
No
20131%
NoResponse447%
Haveyouseenotherpeoplestruggling?
Yes96182%
No21318%
Isthereanysupportavailableifyouarehavingabadday?
Appendix
viii
2.0%
5.0%
8.4%
10.2%
11.4%
29.5%
33.5%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
YouthWorker
ASubjectteacher
ASupportTeacher/Tutor
BrotherorSister
Othermethod
Friend
MumorDad
Whowouldyoutalkto?
24.0%
21.7%
13.5%
8.6%
11.0%
21.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Someoneyourownageofferinghelp
Anadultofferinghelp
Activitieswhereyoucantalkaboutthings(E.gArt,Crafts,Sportsetc...)
Mentoring/Coaching/LifeCoachtypesupport
Counselling
Other
Whatsupportshouldbeavailable?
Appendix
ix
32.2%
28.5%
11.5%
5.3%
6.8%
9.7%
5.9%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
School
Home
Online
Viatext
Phone
CommunityVenue
Other
Wherewouldyouwanthelp?
32.2%
28.5%
11.5%
5.3%
6.8%
9.7%
5.9%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
School
Home
Online
Viatext
Phone
CommunityVenue
Other
Whenwouldbethebesttime?