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www.11MILLION.org.uk 11Million reasons to take the health of young people seriously Sir Al Aynsley-Green Children’s Commissioner for England “The 11 MILLION children and young people in England have a voice” Children’s Commissioner for England, Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green The way we work Participation, not consultation! • Consultation means adults ask and adults decide • Participation means children and young people are seriously engaged in making decisions that affect them Improving the health of young people today – the context: • • • • Society Politics What young people have to say What has to be done 40 separate indicators in 6 groups: •Material well being •Health and safety •Education •Peer and family relationships •Behaviours and risks •Subjective well being The evidence: The UK is bottom of the table overall, and bottom for 5 of the 6 groups of indicators eg • High poverty • Poor health - high infant mortality & low birth weight • Poor family and peer relationships • Risky behaviour – alcohol, early sex & teen pregnancy • Low expectations and high NEETs • Low self-assessed well being Are the findings true? With 11MILLION children and young people in England there will be inevitably a wide range of experiences and outcomes – outstanding and successful to bleak and appalling. Challenge is to acknowledge there is a problem to confront whilst celebrating what is good Demonisation A major issue for society Affects: The public’s support for the cause of adolescence and their health Political pressure and direction of policy Causes: Anger, alienation and frustration in young people themselves Redressing the balance – 11MILLION takeover day Political context • • • • • • • • • Every Child Matters National Service Framework Choosing Health White paper Youth Matters Our Health Our Care Our Say Teenage Pregnancy Strategy You’re Welcome Children’s Plan Staying Safe Action Plan Teenage Health Demonstration Sites • Hackney, Bolton, Northumberland & Portsmouth • To demonstrate how: – to ensure information and guidance can be delivered effectively especially in non-health settings – best to configure health services to young people – test on-line health check for 12-13yr olds – test support for those after abortion, teenage parents and avoiding repeat pregnancy + RCPCH and NYA health skills framework What are we doing? Working with children and young people: • Focus on transitions • Focus on social exclusion • Risk - informed and positive decisions What makes you happy and healthy? Why focus on transition periods? Children and young people are often left without the right support as they move from • Early Years to primary school, • Primary to secondary education • Leaving school Stress, anxiety and lack of support through these transition periods is common and worse for those with disabilities Young people tell us: • ‘Nobody understands’ • ‘I’ve got nobody to talk to’ • ‘I get bullied at school and the teachers punish me for not doing my homework on time’ • ‘I really needed help when my mum died’ • ‘Every school should have a drop in centre’ • The Market Place has been fantastic’ Young people want: • To be asked, listened to, heard and respected • Security and safety, end to violence & family disruption • School life – – – – – End to bullying and racism Less anxiety and stress Better school environment – to enjoy school more Knowledge and help in dealing with alcohol and drugs Non-judgemental information on sex and sexuality • Someone to turn to What does this mean for the design and delivery of adolescent health services? Our special concerns: • • • • • • • Obesity Mental health Hidden harm Youth Justice Asylum and immigration Young carers Support for young people after abuse CAMHS : Much achieved… • Significant growth in CAMHS • Good practice emerging • Raising awareness of mental health issues affecting children and young people • Positive changes to Mental Health Bill 2007 – Age appropriate facilities Our influence • Concerns raised • Research via Young Minds • Listening • Writing report • Key stakeholders • Media contacts – BBC News reports • Launch • Parliamentary debate • Media coverage • Follow through But more to be done… • CAMHS improvements not benefiting all in need – Some receiving little or no help – Delays in finding suitable beds in some areas – GPs feel unable to refer due to lack of provision – Impact of other provisions, such as CTOs • Failing to meet needs of those in custody and seeking asylum • Ensure age appropriate provision works in practice Exposing hidden harm: • 300,000 children with drug misusing parent • 850,000 children with alcohol misusing parent Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum • Parental mental health: 30% - 50% of adult mental health users are parents • Domestic violence • 175,000 young carers in the UK – high risk of mental health problems • Think Family– Think Child and Young Person What’s to be done? • Unprecedented opportunity • Young people on radar screen • Listen to them to design appropriate services to meet their needs • Advocate for them and demand effective commissioning of ‘journey’ through services • Look out of the box • Encourage them to have ownership of their health The opportunity for schools: • • • • Understanding each student Someone to turn to Health services in schools Personal Social and Health Education – Sex and relationships – Alcohol and substance misuse • Promoting emotional resilience – Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning – UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools