A member of 1st Amesbury Girls’ Brigade attended an All-Party Parliamentary Group meeting, discussing the importance of youth organisations for young people and their mental health.
Ella, 19, visited Parliament to represent youth organisations, delivering a short speech about the relationship between young people and mental well-being.
At the meeting on Wednesday the 4th of June, three MP’s were present from different political parties, alongside a representative of the Department of Health & Social Care, and two mental health charities.
The panel began the meeting by discussing the importance of hearing from young people to shape future policies, such as the new ten year mental health plan recently introduced by the Government.
In her speech, Ella spoke about the importance of youth organisations, like The Girls’ Brigade, that provide young people with an escapism from academic pressures they may experience in school. She also spoke about the lockdown experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the negative impact this had on young people who no longer had access to a safe socialising space, emphasising the need for these youth groups that continue to support young people.
After all the selected speakers had shared what they had to say, some revealing a very vulnerable and personal story, the floor was opened for a Q&A discussion. Here, thoughts were shared about the importance of mental health training for those who support young people, as well as the importance for young people to talk to their local MP’s: something the panel strongly encouraged as the meeting was drawn to a close.
By Ella Thurgood
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