Boost mental health to improve youth outcomes, says YMCA England

YMCA England, is calling on the next government to prioritise five key areas of work to help young people get into active and fulfilling roles within their communities and lift them out of poverty.

Launched yesterday (Tuesday), the manifesto says providing better children's health and wellbeing services – with a greater focus given to tackling mental health problems early – is crucial to delivering improved opportunities and outcomes for young people.

Recommendations put forward by the charity include tackling long waiting times of child and adolescent mental health services, as well as proper training for professionals on young people's mental health problems.

Speaking at the launch, YMCA England chair, Peter Jeffrey praised the work of all YMCA staff and young people that have contributed towards the manifesto, and said mental health had been raised as a concern across the organisation's four main areas of work – accommodation, training and education, health and wellbeing, and family work.

“The growing number of young people experiencing mental health issues and engaging with us was a very significant number and a very alarming number," Jeffrey said.

“There was a recent statistic that I was reading from the NHS that one in four young persons will have some sort of mental illness issue through the course of their early lives and we must, I think, ask ourselves why that is and what we can do about it.”

The national council of all YMCAs is also calling for schools careers advice to be delivered by professional careers specialists, as this is the best way to ensure young people are aware of all the job, training and education options available.

Additionally, the manifesto recommends better engagement between schools and local businesses to give young people a better insight into work and alternative pathways to higher and further education.

YMCA England also wants to see better support for families, improved housing for young people to solve the current housing crisis, and the introduction of votes at 16.

Denise Hatton, YMCA England chief executive, said: “In our work, young people who are keen to learn skills, pursue job opportunities or who, once someone takes time to listen, reveal big plans and ideas for how they would like to contribute to society.

“However, limited educational opportunities, a lack of suitable jobs and an inflexible welfare system can leave young people cast aside and unsupported.

“With just a little bit of extra help, to help them on their way in life, the young people of our country would be able to give back so much.”

A video of the manifesto is also available online, which lays out the charity's recommendations.