Involving children and young people in developing services for sexual and mental health
Dorothy McHugh
Youth Talkin' Health Lead
Summary
A young people's group designed a questionnaire to explore young people's knowledge, views, concerns and ideas about services for mental health and sexual health in NHS Tayside. Several drafts were piloted to ensure the questions were framed correctly, and the questionnaire was made available in both paper and electronic formats.
Dates
Start Date: 10
End Date: 11
Location
Tayside
Sector
Primary care
Target groups
Children and young people
Methods Used
Aims and objectives
- find out what information young people already have about Mental Health and Sexual Health Services;
- identify concerns and gaps in services;
- explore young people's opinions on service improvements and possible solutions to problems; and
- report on the findings to those who are responsible for providing services
- identify concerns and gaps in services;
- explore young people's opinions on service improvements and possible solutions to problems; and
- report on the findings to those who are responsible for providing services
What we did
In order to explore the extent of young people's knowledge, views, concerns and ideas around Mental and Sexual Health, our young people's group, Youth Talkin' Health, designed a questionnaire which was produced in electronic and paper formats and which included both closed and open questions.
Designing the questionnaire - particularly framing the questions to elicit the required response - involved a great deal of work. Advice on the questionnaire was sought and received from NHS colleagues (although the young people's group did not always take the advice offered - preferring to ask the questions THEY felt were important and relevant!) The questionnaire was made available online and in paper format throughout August and September 2010 and was promoted through schools, young people's organisations and venues. 1001 young people across Tayside completed the survey.
Following analysis of the results, Youth Talkin' Health prepared a report "Mental Health & Sexual Health Consultation" which made a series of presentations to service providers and partner agencies to explore the key findings and recommendations contained within the report. In August 2011, four members of the group presented the report to the Board of NHS Tayside. Service providers and partner agencies have produced an Improvement Plan in response.
Designing the questionnaire - particularly framing the questions to elicit the required response - involved a great deal of work. Advice on the questionnaire was sought and received from NHS colleagues (although the young people's group did not always take the advice offered - preferring to ask the questions THEY felt were important and relevant!) The questionnaire was made available online and in paper format throughout August and September 2010 and was promoted through schools, young people's organisations and venues. 1001 young people across Tayside completed the survey.
Following analysis of the results, Youth Talkin' Health prepared a report "Mental Health & Sexual Health Consultation" which made a series of presentations to service providers and partner agencies to explore the key findings and recommendations contained within the report. In August 2011, four members of the group presented the report to the Board of NHS Tayside. Service providers and partner agencies have produced an Improvement Plan in response.
Impact
Around 10% of children and young people in Scotland have mental health problems which are so significant that they interfere with their lives on a day-to-day basis. These statistics were reflected in the findings of the Youth Talkin' Health survey.
Sexual health in Scotland is poor: sexually transmitted infections are widespread and increasing, while teenage conceptions are amongst the highest in Western Europe. The consultation uncovered some useful information about young people's sexual behaviour.
The report provides an illuminating snapshot of mental health and sexual health services through the eyes of the young people who use them and provides useful information to help inform a service response to the issues raised. The consultation has had the effect of raising the profile of young people's mental health and sexual health within appropriate forums across Tayside, and the Improvement Plan produced by service providers in response to the report recommendations is clear evidence of this.
Members of the Youth Talkin' Health group have acted as advocates for the larger body of young people across Tayside by articulating and highlighting the views and concerns expressed through the Consultation process. Importantly, the project has resulted in a significant step forward in engaging with young people on their terms and has provided a valuable opportunity for decision-makers to hear the views of the young people who use their services.
Sexual health in Scotland is poor: sexually transmitted infections are widespread and increasing, while teenage conceptions are amongst the highest in Western Europe. The consultation uncovered some useful information about young people's sexual behaviour.
The report provides an illuminating snapshot of mental health and sexual health services through the eyes of the young people who use them and provides useful information to help inform a service response to the issues raised. The consultation has had the effect of raising the profile of young people's mental health and sexual health within appropriate forums across Tayside, and the Improvement Plan produced by service providers in response to the report recommendations is clear evidence of this.
Members of the Youth Talkin' Health group have acted as advocates for the larger body of young people across Tayside by articulating and highlighting the views and concerns expressed through the Consultation process. Importantly, the project has resulted in a significant step forward in engaging with young people on their terms and has provided a valuable opportunity for decision-makers to hear the views of the young people who use their services.
Evaluation
The online version of the questionnaire was a much more efficient vehicle to gather young people's views - although not all of the schools taking part were able to use this method.
Group members learned a lot about questionnaire design and the importance of framing questions to elicit the required response. Six or seven drafts were piloted with sample groups before the final wording was agreed.
This experience will prove valuable in any future ventures. Should this type of project be attempted in future, greater effort should be expended in promoting the consultation much more widely.
Group members learned a lot about questionnaire design and the importance of framing questions to elicit the required response. Six or seven drafts were piloted with sample groups before the final wording was agreed.
This experience will prove valuable in any future ventures. Should this type of project be attempted in future, greater effort should be expended in promoting the consultation much more widely.
Additional Project Documents
