Survey finds health and wellbeing top concerns among young people

Health and wellbeing were the top concerns of hundreds of thousands of young people in the UK who took part in a new survey.

In the country’s “largest youth consultation”, more than half a million 11 to 18-year-olds were asked to choose the issue they felt had the greatest impact on them and their peers.

The 10 themes are health and wellbeing; education and learning; climate and environment; crime and safety; culture, media and sport; international relations; employment, economy and welfare; rights, equality and democracy; transport; and youth work.

People voted online and at participating schools across the UK.

A survey conducted by Youth Council UK on behalf of the UK Youth Parliament, which contributed to the debate in the House of Commons, showed health and wellbeing was the top issue with 85,976 votes cast.

The council said it encouraged young people to “have their say and be heard” and the poll was supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The second place is crime and safety, with 78,893 votes; the third place is culture, media and sports, with 69,261 votes; the fourth place is employment, economy and welfare, with 69,256 votes.

University student Patrick Dolan told Sky News, “Young people are Mental Health It didn’t get the attention it deserved.”

He said his family doctor promised him talk therapy and told him any treatment he received while in college would be online.

But when he started treatment, after a year of waiting, his treatment was canceled after 20 minutes because he was told to register in College Station – where the waiting list was longer.

He calls for “less bureaucracy” NHS And carry out reforms to improve service efficiency.

Sky News also spoke to first-time voters at Old Swinford Hospital School in Stourbridge, West Midlands, who pointed out that crime was a significant issue unless there was ” police officer On every street”.

On the financial front, one student told Sky News that his university maintenance loan “doesn’t even cover his accommodation costs” and that the cost of living is an “increasing concern”.

More than half of 18-year-olds did not vote at the last general election, despite more than 500,000 young people voting in the survey.

Many young people blame politicians for low turnout, with 57% feeling their opinions are rarely or never heard, according to a recent Opinium poll.

First-time voters at Old Swinford Hospital School also had their say on the issue, saying “the manifesto is not for young people”, “mistrust” and short-termism may be to blame.

When asked what word they most associated with British politics, they said: “ineffective”, “undemocratic”, “broken”, “misleading”, “divisive” and “selfish”.

They also criticized politicians for “making promises they have no intention of keeping.”

But Shadow Attorney-General Emily Thornberry has been a leading supporter of lowering the voting age to 16, urging young people to use their right to vote at the next general election.

“The power is in your hands, collectively you have a little bit of power but together with all your partners you have more power and as a country you have all the power,” the Labor MP said.

She added: “Young people are right to prioritize their mental health.”

The British Youth Council has now ceased operations due to financial challenges, including the collapse of its main supporter The Body Shop.

But questions remain about whether young people will be able to take part in similar surveys in the future.

A spokesman for the British Youth Council said: “We are proud that so many young people are using their voices to tell decision-makers what is important to them.

“It’s clear that improving the health and wellbeing of young people is an area where the government should invest a lot of energy.

“In an election year, we hope policymakers will use these results to enact policy changes that will make a real impact on young people’s lives.”

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Lauren Bond, a member of the UK Youth Parliament, told Sky News that she spent most of her life “feeling like I wasn’t heard”.

It’s unclear whether youth turnout will rise in the next election.

But the common sentiment among young people interviewed by Sky News is clear: many feel ignored by politicians.

We contacted various government departments and the Conservative Party for interviews, but no one answered.

Here is the full voting list:

1. Health and Wellbeing – 85,976 votes

2. Crime and Safety – 78,893

3. Culture, media and sport – 69,261

4. Employment, Economy and Welfare – 69,256

5. C+ Climate and Environment – 49,383

6. Education and Learning – 48,713

7. Rights, Equality and Democracy – 40,452