Communication problems
Young people are not always told about other services that may help them.
There is a lack of resources to explain and communicate procedures and medical records to young people when accessing healthcare.
Healthcare
Access to high-quality healthcare is vitally important for everyone’s health and wellbeing.
Why it matters
When healthcare lacks funding for quality and quantity falls, not everyone can get the help they need, and those that do don’t always have their needs fully met and may have harmful experiences. When people aren’t listened to, they are unable to get the help they need, and it damages their trust; it will reduce the likelihood of asking for help with other health problems.
The issues
Across our nations young people have identified issues within mental and physical healthcare. These issues revolve around a lack of resources, people not being listened to, and professionals not understanding individuals and their conditions.
Communication problems
Ignored and dismissed
Young people are not always listened to or taken seriously when they raise concerns about their mental or physical health.
Women are often not taken seriously when they seek help for mental health, pain and physical health. Often their concerns are blamed on periods, a need to lose weight and needing to eat healthier.
Poor transitions
There are difficulties transitioning from child to adult mental and physical healthcare services; such as being put to the bottom of the service list, needing reassessment and having to work with new people who may not be familiar with you or your condition.
Post code lottery
There are very mixed experiences when accessing mental and physical healthcare, some are positive, many are negative, it seems to be a post code lottery on whether you have positive experiences.
While some young people found mental health support beneficial, some also reported that it actively made their mental health worse.
Long waiting lists
Long waiting lists for mental health support
Long waiting lists for neurodivergence assessments
Long waiting lists for surgeries
Long waiting times for ambulances
Long waiting times in A&E
Stigma
There is still a social stigma around mental health
What young people said?
What we want decision makers to do
Improve research into women’s health: CPR training, menstrual health, etc
Employ more specialists
Reduce waiting lists
Hold employers accountable
Improve funding and resource management
Make translators more visible and accessible
Have counsellors in GP surgeries
Improve understanding of mental health
Look at what works well in other nations
Have more education on women’s health and disabilities
Action plan
There are issues we face as young people accessing healthcare and we often feel powerless to do anything about it. The purpose of this action plan is to change that. We aim to outline a clear set of actions for young people across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Feedback directly to health service
If you have feedback or concerns about a specific health service they all have a process so you can let them know about any comments or complaints. You should be able to find this information on their website. If you would like any support to make a complaint or access a healthcare service you can ask for support from an advocate. Below are links to advocacy services for each of the nations.
Advocacy services
Contact
For more information contact: holly@youthaction.org
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