· Introduction to this item by Heather Newton, Member for Youth Parliament
· Information on iThrive, the CAMHs service, other commissioned services and activities, and local data on the need in this area, by Judy Edwards, Wiltshire Council - Commissioner for Young Peoples Mental Health Services
· Youth Panel & Q&A Session
Minutes:
The Chairman introduced Heather Newton, Member for Youth Parliament, who gave an introduction to the item.
We took part in a survey for people aged 11 – 18 years, where young people were asked to input their opinions. Over a million responses were input in to the survey, and Young People’s mental health was the third top issue.
It is recognised that we will all know someone that is affected by mental health issues.
Judy Edwards, Wiltshire Council Commissioner for Young Peoples Mental Health Services provided information on iThrive, the CAMHs service, other commissioned services and activities, and local data on the need in this area.
Wiltshire Council wrote its Strategy in 2015. Transformation Plan was updated annually. Since 2015 this had attracted additional funding year on year. Part of my role is to make sure that this funding is invested properly.
NHS – Long Term Plan:
· Roll out of Mental Health support teams – working with schools
· 16-25 mental health services – address the needs of this age group
· Crisis Mental Health services
CAMHS for this area – covered by 6 GP surgeries:
· Mere Surgery
· Silton Surgery
· Hindon Surgery
· Tisbury Surgery
· Wilton Surgery
· Orchard Partnership
Of the 132 referrals for support received from this area, 36 of those from a GP.
Karen explained that work with the young people had been taking place over the last few months, it was vital that their views were heard. Some of the young people working with Jaki at Seeds4Success had been invited to take part in a question and answer session around key issues.
Youth Panel & Q&A Session
What Impacts on mental health?
· Education has a big impact. The pressure of deciding what to do with study choices and what directions to go and your exams.
· Transition from child to an adult.
· It is eye opening how many young people I know who are exposed to drugs and alcohol.
· Education, social groups and past trauma.
· The lack of resources outside of school, we are told we are loitering but there is nothing to do. No activities, and the cinema is too expensive. The library closes at 5pm, not that you can hang out there.
· People get wound up in drugs and alcohol as there is nothing else to do.
Where do you access support from?
· You hear about bad experiences your friends have had with going to the teachers or pastoral care at school, so no one wants to do it. Also you can be shamed for seeking support. Or pushed away when you do speak to a teacher or pastoral support.
· Other young people do approach me for support rather than going to an adult. As a young person it is hard to know where to signpost to.
· Clubs, cadets, karate, community systems support people more than the professionals who are set up to give the support.
· Stereotypes – wouldn’t want to be the odd one out.
· Feeling scared and the pressure of what will happen if they do ask.
· Organising a way for all young people to be able to communicate with one person is what is needed.
· Having open conversations about mental health is helpful.
· To not be told that we are being over dramatic and over the top.
· Pastoral support is the last route, a family friend or people you already are close with, like the club workers would be first choice. But they need training in how to deal with this.
· I may go to friends and they may come to me but need to be careful not to overload myself.
· Chatting to strangers on the internet – they are anonymous and are sometimes more direct.
Do you use online resources?
· No wouldn’t really use them.
· There is something called Shout – I like the idea of being able to text someone anonymously.
· Waiting for a reply for several days isn’t good.
· Having the same form tutor for the entire time at a school can help to build a trust and relationship, enabling me to go to them.
Karen thanked the young people for their input in this discussion.
The Chairman noted that two groups had been mentioned, the Cadets and Jaki through Seeds4Success. He invited the Cadet leaders to introduce themselves.
Questions and Comments included:
· The Cadets were looking for an alternative venue to hold their meetings to enable them to expand the sessions and training options.
· Peter Waterman from Wiltshire Libraries raised awareness of a service which was not widely known about. People could access lists of suggested books on mental health in a section headed ‘reading well young people’ online. There were 35 titles which had been specifically chosen to help young people dealing with a variety of issues. The books could be ordered in to local libraries.
· Cllr Church – Cabinet Member for Children and Education, thanked the young people for talking so openly and honestly. She planned to take the information back and share it, with the possibility of liaising with other Area Boards to replicate the session in other areas.
· The Chairman added that the South West Wiltshire was a big enough of a community area to take this topic up and schedule something more, outside of the Area Board.
· Cllr Wayman asked whether there were local mentoring schemes?
Answer: At my current school a mentoring scheme had just been established.
· Police – There were opportunities for the neighbourhood teams to work more with the cadets. Would like to turn around any negative experiences you have had with the Police.
· Jaki – We also spoke about the education system and that it was set up around attendance. So, a young person who was experiencing mental health issues, may not go to school, and end up being home schooled due to pressures put on to the parents by the schools. There can be bullying, and they end up refusing to go back to sch. Parents are encouraged to sign papers to start home schooling. They are then out of the system.
Answer: Chairman – That issue needs a different forum than the Board. This meeting is aimed at spreading the message through our villages and parishes.
· I have been out of school for a year now due to mental health issues. My mother was threatened with fines.
Answer: Cllr Church - No one wants any child out of school. We are aware that there is a little bit of a culture of off rolling, more in primary than secondary schools. Head Teachers were now working together to find the right school for a child that has been found to be struggling in another. This is a huge project we are working on.