YiS Feedback Forum

Healthwatch Milton Keynes worked with YiS Young People’s Mental Health to understand what young people’s mental health needs were.  They surveyed and conducted focus groups with young people.  They spoke to 150 people in total.

The first survey identified areas of concern for young people, including education, Covid-19 and work.  It asked what mental health meant to them and got a variety of responses.  Nearly all were concerned about their mental health.  Most rated their level of concern about their mental health towards the top of the scale.

Over half felt that Covid-19 had impacted on their mental health, mainly due to being unable to see friends and being isolated.

Twelve respondents reported that they had experience of mental health services. Two people reported having had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), one person said their husband was under Adult Mental Health Services and their children were under CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and one other person said they had been referred to CAMHS by their GP. Five people reported having received counselling, either paying privately, accessing through MIND, through YiS.

Focus groups looked at how young people’s mental health could be supported locally. Young people felt that YiS was either unknown or under promoted.  They wanted more education about mental health and wellbeing, more activities and events and a place where they could get support.