Kooth Digital Health’s Post

The return of Stormont brings a renewed opportunity for positive change. Young people are grappling with significant mental health problems in Northern Ireland. Our community has long struggled with the stark reality that less than 8% of the overall budget for mental health provision is allocated to children and young people’s mental health services, resulting in limited access to essential mental health support. We urge all MLAs to take immediate action by: 1. Advocating for increased funding: We urge all MLAs to champion the cause of our children and young people by pushing for and delivering a substantial increase in funding for children and young people’s mental health services. 2. Raise Awareness: We ask that all MLAs use their influence and position to shed light on the inadequate funding allocated to children and young people’s mental health services, emphasising the need to prioritise and protect children and young people’s mental health. Securing funding for the successful implementation of the Mental Health Strategy should be among the top priorities for the new Executive, considering the disappointingly slow progress made to date, we urge everyone to support our call and sign this petition. Sign the petition here - https://lnkd.in/euDSbUhb

In the recent Kings Speech, the Government committed to reforming the new Mental Health Act 👩⚖️ In this blog we re-cap on the progress made reforming the Act to date, and what the Bill should include for children and young people⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eBQmRxin

This webinar will explore recent findings from a comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, which revealed the proportion and burden of mental health conditions in Australia directly attributable to childhood abuse and neglect. Dr Lucy Grummitt will discuss effective interventions and policy-driven solutions to mitigate the impact of childhood maltreatment, and the need to treat childhood maltreatment as a critical public health issue. Points she will cover include: • Causal Impact: The robust evidence establishing childhood maltreatment as a significant causal factor for mental health conditions. • Data-Driven Insights: Insights from national surveys and studies that highlight the scope and scale of the problem in Australia. • Policy Implications: The importance of implementing policy-driven solutions to prevent childhood maltreatment, including examples of effective policies from other countries. • Practical Interventions: Identifying effective interventions and support programs that can be implemented to support children and families affected by maltreatment. Register here: https://ow.ly/pPCq50Sytn8

The month of May is the Mental Health Awareness month, and A Work of Faith Ministries Inc (AWOFINC) provides and promotes a mental health program for individuals needing these services. Our organization seeks to assist people who are struggling to find mental health services. Mental healthcare should be accessible, meaning it should not be a barrier to care. Numerous studies have shown that the provider networks for mental health specialists are less robust than other medical specialties. It can leave people with mental health conditions with no other option than to go without care. Some people will pay overwhelming out-of-pocket costs or take on medical debt, while others will forgo medically necessary mental health treatment. The Dept. of Public Health. at AWOFINC wants to ensure that vulnerable and disadvantaged populations receive the mental healthcare services they need without experiencing barriers in affordability, availability, and accessibility. Use the link below or scan the QR code to complete the survey. https://lnkd.in/gWR7mwgk

Ontario’s kids need timely, high-quality mental health care more than ever, but funding gaps have led to long waitlists and a staffing crisis. The child & youth mental health sector is asking for a $140 million funding commitment in Ontario’s 2024 budget. bit.ly/ONBudget2024

Yesterday was the State Budget and what did we learn? No significant investment in the unmet needs of people living with complex mental health challegnes. The youth mental health funding is welcomed but it is barely a drop in what we need. We have 19,000 South Australians of all ages who need investment in services that will keep them well. South Australia has led the country in being able to say how much we need to fix our mental health crisis and unfortunately this budget does not deliver. There is $1.6bn to increase efficiency in health services, but that is not going towards a mental health system that keeps all people out of crisis. You can read more on the link below; https://lnkd.in/gHc6s9fh

At VASLan Third Sector Interface we are committed to champion the third sector in South Lanarkshire at every turn. In our strategy we state that we will use peoples’ lived experience and storytelling to raise awareness and understanding of what the third sector is, what it delivers to change, improve, and indeed save lives. The objective is to influence local, and especially national, policy shapers and decision makers in an effort to lead to a fundamental shift in power dynamics and resource allocation. This is why we have co-produced the #KeepTheBeatAlive campaign with over 100 local organisations, which is now in its storytelling phase. Whether addressing inequalities, poverty or isolation, suicide prevention, or responding to the costs crisis, the Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund is a lifeline for the brave individuals telling their stories in this report. I hope this will stimulate policy shapers and decision makers to respond positively to the #KeepTheBeatAlive campaigns 3 asks. Recognise the immeasurable value grassroots organisations are making to peoples’ lives. Take this as a prompt to meaningfully engage with us, the third sector locally is best placed to reach the most vulnerable in our communities. These organisations need smarter funding, in line with local fair funding principles, to make the magic happen for local people. Well done to my colleague Joanne McMann for leading on this great piece of work 👏

"To mark our resistance to what we believe is a misallocation of funds and attention, we have chosen to spotlight areas of existing and necessary work that aim to genuinely support those living in the silences between annual awareness days, those who the signposted services have not supported or ‘saved’. We call for a reconsideration of WMHD in place of year-round funding for user-led groups and the support they provide, as well as structural change and the proper resourcing of our existing statutory mental health services." https://lnkd.in/g5KRcg_E

Sharing stories from people with lived experience is a powerful way to demonstrate how vital third sector services are - and spotlight how organisations are positively impacting and saving lives. That is why we have put together the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Case Study Report. This report aims to showcase the vital work that third sector organisations are carrying out within our local communities. It will also act as an important resource to advocate for fairer funding and support. You can read the full report now: https://bit.ly/3C6xBEh

The last two days have been tricky for those in public health policy. We are nothing if not pragmatic, but it is hard to move to pragmatism in the aftermath of the announcement by Anthony Albanese yesterday with regard to social media. From a mental health promotion and prevention of mental ill health perspective, it is using a universal approach when what may be needed is an indicated approach targeted at certain groups or at certain times in one's life. It seems strange to me that this is being applied to young people, when if a similar universal public health approach was taken to an adult population there would be outrage. While there are some differences (yes there is a distinction between children and young people, yes there are developmental considerations), there is nothing ambiguous about involving the people who are most impacted by the problem in designing the solutions to the problem. Public health policy has learned this over decades. While some young people undoubtedly support the ban, the majority do not leading to unparalleled joint advocacy by those mental health organisations working directly with young people. Its just that no one is listening with priority given to a hidden agenda focused on the anxieties of parents and the inaction of a government that has not consistently prioritised the mental health and wellbeing of young people. We can and should do better. The indomitable Rosie Thomas OAM has captured those feelings in her post and I reiterate to my colleagues, fellow advocates and most importantly the young people who trusted us to represent their views, that I see you too and while we need a pragmatic approach to what is now proposed, we can still fly the flag for good public health policy, informed by the evidence and designed with the (young) people who will be most impacted by it. #socialmedia #socialmediaban #mentalhealth #youngpeople To read out social media policy brief go here: https://lnkd.in/gxBZt2qT To read the joint statements go here: https://lnkd.in/gTjedun2 https://lnkd.in/gAiUxbrg