Reflections on mental health from young people

To mark World Mental Health Day 2022, we asked our Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG), part of our Mental Health Infrastructure Programme, to share some of their thoughts on their relationship with mental health and reflect on their experience with the group in line with the day’s theme: 'making mental health and wellbeing a global priority for all'.

Mental Health: What's the big deal?

By Kaden, 17, YPAG Member from Westminster and a Member of Youth Parliament for Westminster

"Is mental health really that important?" ask some cynics. One only needs to look at the data to answer that question. Research conducted by the UK Youth Parliament reveals that Health and Wellbeing (especially mental health) is the number-one issue for young Brits this year: of over 430,000 surveyed, it was the top concern for 93,000 (Ref 1).

This World Mental Health Day, we celebrate those who have worked to make positive change around mental health; whether it be the counsellors, doctors, and psychotherapists who treat it, the educators who generate awareness of it, or the activists who struggle to destigmatise it.

For centuries, the life of the mind has been second to the life of the body. Normal people were forced to internalise their emotions, whilst those working through issues with their mental health were treated like animals, tests cases, or worse. Brave advocates and professionals have fought for generations to bring this hidden social ailment to light, and eliminate it once and for all—and the progress over the last couple of decades has been phenomenal.

Yet, there is still much work to be done. The Youth Parliament's analysis reveals that "96% of Focus Groups across the UK [181 out of 189] stated that a lack of health and wellbeing funding and resources was one of the biggest issue impacting their communities welfare (Ref 2)." Young people, including those in my constituency, and NW London in general, suggest current mental health services for adolescents are radically underfunded and understaffed. This needs to be addressed with urgency.

This is where the power of Youth Advisory Groups really begins to show. Organisations like Listen to Act are devoted to educating and destigmatising; exactly the behaviours we are recognising this World Mental Health Day. However, to truly understand the situation, and therefore develop accurate and effective solutions, young people need to be consulted.

I believe that Gen Z is possibly under the greatest level of pressure and stress of any adolescent generation in modern history. We are moving from a traditional world into an increasingly digitised era, and in this new Anthropocene, the youth is being forced to rapidly adapt to day-by-day changes—and our mental health is sometimes the collateral damage. To minimise this, Youth Advisory Groups like the ARC NW London YPAG are absolutely vital.

This World Mental Health Day, let us not just acknowledge how far we've come (and truly, it is far indeed), but let us also look forward into the future, and remember we have a long, long way to go.

References:

1. UK Youth Parliament: Make Your Mark 2022

2. UK Youth Parliament: MYM 2022 Understanding Our Communities Report