Listen Up - Social Welfare Portal

listenup!Chapter 9 | 71Value and importance withina wider contextInfluencing change and making a differenceYoung people saw their involvement as a valuableopportunity to voice their opinions, not justwithin their organisation but in the mental healthand public arena. Being in a position where theirviewpoint was valued was described as empowering:“You’re not ignored… your opinion is heard…”Young personMany said their participation was an excellentopportunity to play an active role in contributingto the children’s and young people’s mental healthagenda, and helping to influence change positivelyat a local and national level. Young people werepassionate about designing and utilising participationso that it could make a real difference to the lives ofother young people experiencing similar issues:“… not only can we make a difference to our lives,but also to the lives of others.”Young personRaising awareness, and reducing stigma anddiscriminationThe level of stigma attached to mental healthproblems and using services had led to someyoung people experiencing discrimination fromfamily and friends. One young person foundthemselves being ostracised from close friends andfamily who no longer wished to speak to her andcalled her a “psycho”.Participation provides young people with theopportunity to help raise awareness of the issuesencountered by young people with mental healthproblems. The young people we spoke to wanted toshare their personal experiences with others so theycould see that:“Basically… I’m a person, you’re a person, whateverproblems we have.”Young personYoung people felt that raising awareness of mentalhealth problems, combined with promoting theimportance and value of emotional wellbeingand happiness to the general public, would helpto reduce stigma and discrimination. In order toachieve this, they felt that all relevant organisationsworking with young people, as well as families,needed more education and training developedand led by young people:“I think what needs to happen really is that peopleneed to be educated from a young age, just likethere’s sex education – do like… a mental healtheducation in schools.”Young person“It’d be good to educate family as well asprofessionals, because at the end of the dayprofessionals do know a bit more than our parents,and our parents need to know, because they have tolook after us and they don’t get to read books aboutit, they only have their experience.”Young personGiving something back to the serviceYoung people also felt that being involved ininternal participation as well as external events andconsultations was a way to support the service in itsaim to promote best practice to meet the needs ofall young people. Supporting the service in this waywas seen as a way of showing their gratitude andgiving something back to the service for the valuablesupport they had received:“It’s nice to give something back for all the help theygave us… I just feel like I owe them so much, [and]this is the only way I can do it.”Young person