Agenda item

Youth Council

(time limit 20 minutes)

 

Mental ill-health amongst young people

Council recognises that poor, and declining, mental health has been identified by young people in the borough as one of the biggest issues they face, especially after the adverse impact upon their health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the most recent annual Make Your Mark Ballot (a UK wide consultation of 11–18-year-olds), mental ill-health received 1,250 votes of the 8,700 cast, constituting the 2nd biggest issue of concern to young people in Oldham. This was reinforced by the findings of an online survey by the Oldham Youth Service in July 2021.

Research by the Children’s Society shows that 75% or young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need and that 34% of those people referred to NHS services are not accepted. 

Although the budget for mental health support rose from £4.5 billion in 2016 to £10.5 billion in 2021.  As 75% of all mental health conditions manifest in young adults before the age of 24 we believe that more money needs to be invested in treating mental ill-health in young people.

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and to the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, to express the concerns of the young people of Oldham, and to seek an adequate share of the £79M set aside for mental health care to meet the needs of our young people. 

 

Minutes:

The Youth Council PROPOSED the following MOTION:

Mental ill-health amongst young people

Council recognises that poor, and declining, mental health has been identified by young people in the borough as one of the biggest issues they face, especially after the adverse impact upon their health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the most recent annual Make Your Mark Ballot (a UK wide consultation of 11–18-year-olds), mental ill-health received 1,250 votes of the 8,700 cast, constituting the 2nd biggest issue of concern to young people in Oldham. This was reinforced by the findings of an online survey by the Oldham Youth Service in July 2021.

Research by the Children’s Society shows that 75% or young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need and that 34% of those people referred to NHS services are not accepted.

Although the budget for mental health support rose from £4.5 billion in 2016 to £10.5 billion in 2021. As 75% of all mental health conditions manifest in young adults before the age of 24 we believe that more money needs to be invested in treating mental ill health in young people.

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and to the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, to express the concerns of the young people of Oldham, and to seek an adequate share of the £79M set aside for mental health care to meet the needs of our young people.

 

Councillor Moores spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor H Gloster spoke in support of the Motion.

Councillor Arnott spoke on the Motion.

Councillor Shah spoke in support of the Motion.

 

Councillor Moores MOVED and Councillor H Gloster SECONDED the MOTION as presented by the Youth Council.

 

A recorded vote was requested and taken on the MOTION as follows:

 

COUNCILLOR

 

COUNCILLOR

 

Abid, Sahr

ABSTAIN

Ibrahim, Nyla

FOR

Ahmad, Riaz

FOR

Iqbal, Javid

ABSENT

Akhtar, Shoab

FOR

Islam, Mohammed Nazrul

FOR

Alexander, Ginny

FOR

Jabbar, Abdul

FOR

Al-Hamdani, Sam

FOR

Kenyon, Mark

ABSENT

Ali, Mohon

FOR

Lancaster, Luke

FOR

Alyas, Mohammed

FOR

Leach, Valerie

FOR

Arnott, Dave

ABSTAIN

Malik, Abdul

ABSENT

Bashforth, Marie

ABSENT

McLaren, Colin

FOR

Bashforth, Steven

ABSENT

Moores, Eddie

FOR

Birch, Ros

FOR

Murphy, Dave

FOR

Briggs, Norman

ABSENT

Mushtaq, Shaid

ABSENT

Brownridge, Barbara

FOR

Phythian, Clint

FOR

Byrne, Pam

FOR

Phythian, Kyle

FOR

Chadderton, Amanda

FOR

Roberts, Hannah

FOR

Chauhan, Zahid

FOR

Salamat, Ali Aqeel

FOR

Cosgrove, Angela

FOR

Shah, Arooj

FOR

Curley, Jamie

FOR

Sharp, Beth

ABSENT

Davis, Peter

FOR

Sheldon, Graham

ABSTAIN

Dean, Peter

FOR

Shuttleworth, Graham

ABSENT

Garry, Elaine

FOR

Stretton, Jean

ABSENT

Gloster, Chris

FOR

Surjan, Ruji Sapna

FOR

Gloster, Hazel

FOR

Sykes MBE, Howard

FOR

Goodwin, Chris

FOR

Taylor, Elaine

FOR

Hamblett, Louie

FOR

Toor, Yasmin

ABSENT

Hindle, Neil

FOR

Wilkinson, Mark

FOR

Hobin, Brian

FOR

Williamson, Diane

FOR

Hulme, George

FOR

Williams, Steve

FOR

Hussain, Aftab

FOR

Woodvine, Max

FOR

Hussain, Fida

ABSENT

Harrison Jenny

FOR

 

On a recorded VOTE being taken, 44 VOTES were cast in FAVOUR of the MOTION with 0 VOTES cast AGAINST and 4 ABSTENTIONS. The MOTION was therefore CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive be asked to write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, and to the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, to express the concerns of the young people of Oldham, and to seek an adequate share of the £79M set aside for mental health care to meet the needs of our young people.