Youth Access

Advice has key role to play in improving mental health

21 January, 2010

Ground-breaking study reveals strong links between social welfare problems, mental health and youth

Youth Access today launches the results of the first ever study focussing on the relationship between social welfare problems, mental health and youth.

The key findings, contained in a new report, With rights in mind, include:

• There are strong associations between social welfare problems (such as homelessness and debt), mental health and youth, regardless from which direction the relationship is viewed.
• Social welfare problems and mental health problems tend to co-occur and can exacerbate each other. 
• Particularly strong associations were found amongst NEET young adults and where homelessness was involved. 
• The provision of social welfare advice may have a significant beneficial impact on young people's mental health and well-being.

Barbara Rayment, Director of Youth Access, says:"This study provides tremendously important evidence for policy makers to take into account in formulating cost-effective responses to the impact of the recession. For the majority, the worst of the recession may be over, but Youth Access remains deeply concerned that the continuing rise of youth unemployment will lead to major increases in both social welfare problems and mental health problems in the medium to long term."

Youth Access believes that the study's findings have important implications for policy and practice:

• Advice services should be routinely provided alongside services that can provide support for young people's emotional and mental health issues. 
• There is a need for joined-up planning at local and national level involving commissioners responsible for advice services, mental health services and integrated youth support services if public resources are to be effectively focussed on those with the most complex needs.

Barbara Rayment says:"The evidence points clearly to the need for greater investment in multi-disciplinary service models that can provide age appropriate advice, counselling and other support services 'under one roof'."

Read With rights in mind - full report or briefing version

Notes for Editors

1.  Youth Access is the national membership association for a network of over 200 Youth Information, Advice, Counselling and Support services across the UK dealing with over one million enquiries a year on issues as diverse as sexual health, mental health, relationships, homelessness, benefits and debt. For further information, go to: www.youthaccess.org.uk.

2.  Within Youth Access' membership, there are many existing examples of multi-disciplinary services, enabling young people to access age-appropriate help for their social welfare, emotional, health, personal and practical difficulties'under one roof.'
Read profiles of Youth Access member services
Download leaflet on The YIACS Offer

3.  With rights in mind was written by Mark Sefton, an independent researcher, and draws on an analysis of data from the English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Survey conducted specifically for this project by the Legal Services Research Centre. The report will be launched today at an event being held in London by the Youth Housing and Health Network.

4.  Youth Access will use the findings of this research, together with the findings and recommendations from our Department of Health-funded Making Tracks Project – which aims to improve services for young adults with complex needs by developing better partnership working between GPs, Primary Care Trusts and Youth Information, Advice, Counselling and Support services – to inform national and local policies and commissioning practices. If you are interested in this work, please contact Amandeep Hothi (Email: Amandeep)

5.  For more information, hard copies of the reports, case studies and access to interviewees, please call:

James Kenrick, Advice Services Development Manager, Youth Access020 8772 9900 ext. 25 / 07535 344881; james@youthaccess.org.uk
or
Steve Lee, Policy Officer, Youth Access020 8772 9900 ext. 28 / 07966 739308; steve@youthaccess.org.uk

5. Other relevant reports published by Youth Access include:

• The Advice Needs of Young People – The Evidence (2009)
• Young People's Access to Advice – The Evidence (2009)
• The Impact of the Recession on Young People – and on their needs for advice and counselling services (2009)
• Rights Within Reach: Developing Effective Legal Advice Outreach Services for Young People (2009)
• Commissioning Counselling Services for Young People: a Guide for Commissioners (2007)
• Locked Out: Young People's housing and homelessness needs and the impact of good advice (2007)

View and download Youth Access publications

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