Young people's project

Healthwatch Walsall undertook research about young people’s experience and views about health care as it was a local priority.  They undertook a survey to which 189 people responded.

The respondents had used a range of health and social care services in the previous year. Being treated less like a child by professionals was as important to them as the kindness with which service staff treated them.

A small percentage of the respondents said that they had been the victims of violence in the previous 12 months and a little over a third said that they had witnessed violence, although this was not within a specified time period.

There were a range of responses about what respondents understood by neglect with some seeing it as how children were cared for by their parents or guardians. Some viewed it more widely in terms of how vulnerable people were being cared for. Others viewed it as about being ignored or ostracised, perhaps within a friendship group. Respondents suggested that they could raise concerns about neglect with parents, friends; teachers and the police.

When asked about mental wellbeing, again there was a range of answers given about what it meant. Most saw it as being mentally well and stable. Almost half of the respondents said that they were affected by social media and those that said they were affected felt it had a negative impact including pressure to conform. Comparing themselves to people on social media tended to have a negative impact on their self-esteem. As well as family, friends and teachers, they also felt they could talk to CAMHS. 

There were 6 recommendations including improving young people’s awareness of services.  Healthwatch Walsall undertook to use the findings from this research to undertake further work with young people in 2020/21.