Consultation: | Young Greens AGM 2021 |
---|---|
Agenda item: | B Motions of Policy and Organisation |
Proposer: | Joshua Farrell (Ipswich Green Party) |
Status: | Submitted |
Submitted: | 06/17/2021, 15:39 |
B8: Post-pandemic mental health crisis
Summary
This motion calls for us to campaign for support to our already strained mental health services, as they try to deal with the mental health crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Motion Text
Notes:
Mental health services have seen a real-term spending cut of 2.3% since
2011/12
At the same time as the cuts we have seen demand for mental health
services rise by up to 16%
The pandemic has caused an increasing number of people to struggle with
their mental health as feelings of anxiety and loneliness have increased
Going through a health crisis as large as a global pandemic is a traumatic
event and we need to treat the mental health issues as well as the
physical
The pandemic will cause an increase in demand for mental health services
LGBTIQA+ and POC youth are most likely the ones to be negatively affected
by the pandemic as they both have worse mental health than the general
population
This will worsen the pre-existing youth mental health crisis
The government has already pledged £500m to help
Believes:
Throwing money at the crisis will not end it
Mental health care should be a right not a privilege
Specific support for LGBTIQA+ youth is needed, especially trans youth
POC have had to deal with not only the pandemic but the trauma of police
brutality which has been highlighted due to the pandemic
Resolves:
To call for the government to take the mental health crisis seriously and
not just throw money at it
To recognise the intersections of where access to mental health may be
limited and where it is needed
Supporters
- Dylan Lewis-Creser (North Northamptonshire Green Party)
- Kirsty McMillan (Richmond Green Party)
- Kane Elwell (Durham Greens)
Comments
Hannah Clare:
In some ways, funding is critical too however. A lot of mental health services are underfunded - as there is a need for earlier help services that aren't CAHMS, especially as CAHMS doesn't work for everyone. It might be helpful to reflect on this in an amendment in some way
Are there things you could call for at an education or local authority level? Could councils be encourage to set up early help wellbeing services? Could schools be mandated to have a wellbeing service? Could you campaign on the government to use funding for local authorities rather than just CCGs?
Hannah Clare:
Joshua Farrell:
DAC Chair:
"To call for the government to take the mental health crisis seriously and
not just throw money at it"
AMENDED TO
"To call for the government to take the mental health crisis seriously"