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GOOD CHILDHOOD INQUIRY REVEALS FEARS OVER CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING
A public
opinion poll published by The Children’s Society, as part of its
ongoing Good Childhood Inquiry, reveals mounting concern among
adults in the North of England about children’s mental health and
well being. When asked to rate children’s happiness today compared
to when they were growing up, only 12% of respondents felt children
nowadays are happier.
The Children’s Society commissioned the GfK NOP poll to complement
the launch of a summary of the evidence submitted to the inquiry on
its fifth theme, children’s health. Professionals and members of the
public submitted evidence on a variety of health concerns but a
large number of responses highlighted an issue barely acknowledged
by past generations, with children’s mental health and well being.
The concerns of adults in the north echo what children themselves
have told The Good Childhood Inquiry. In a survey of 8,000 14 to 16
year olds, carried out by The Children’s Society as part of the
inquiry, 27% of young people agreed with the statement ‘I often
feel depressed’.
In a separate online vote, conducted by CBBC
Newsround for the inquiry, 78% of those who voted said they felt
fine, good or really good about their health; however a worrying 22%
felt bad or really bad. Many also said they felt under pressure to
look good, with 7 out of 10 admitting they dieted some or all of the
time.
A number of children submitting evidence commented on the importance
of being free from stress, pressure and worry. In some cases they
explicitly linked pressure to school, the influence of peers,
bullying, family expectations and their looks. Interestingly when
asked what has the most negative impact on children’s well-being
generally, adults responding to the GfK NOP poll rated family
breakdown and conflict (30%) and peer pressure (24%) highly.
Considering the issue of how to promote better mental health and
well being for children, Professor Stephen Scott, Institute of
Psychiatry and an inquiry panel member said:- “Many
respondents to the inquiry shared the belief that well being depends
on good relationships, especially within the family; on a sense of
purpose and on freedom. To achieve this, child mental health
and well being must be everybody’s business. Support for parents is
crucial; schooling has a key part to play; and providing the
effective treatments now available for children with mental health
problems takes time, skill and resources.”
Many of the submissions expressed concern about the impact that
poverty and social disadvantage has on mental health and well being.
Refugee children, children in trouble with the law, children with
disabilities and children at risk on the streets, with whom The
Children’s Society works on a daily basis, are among those most
affected by these issues.
Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children’s Society said:-
“There is a growing recognition of the true cost of neglecting
children’s mental health and well being. Too often mental health and
well being have been dismissed as being of little importance but
there is now an understanding that if we want to give children a
better childhood these matters must be addressed. We now need to
translate this growing concern into action and investment in the
necessary support services.”
71% of Northerners surveyed in the GfK NOP poll said the increase in
indoor activities, such as computer games and television watching,
prevents children nowadays from being more active, while 85% agreed
children need more education about healthy diets.
There was an
overwhelming consensus among respondents that physical health plays
a crucial role in mental health, with 95% agreeing to some extent
that physical activities are an important element in promoting
mental health.
The Children’s Society has already released evidence summaries on
the inquiry’s 1st 4 themes are friends, family, learning and lifestyle.
The inquiry will meet this summer to discuss the remaining theme of
values before publishing its final report in early 2009.
The public can contribute to The Good Childhood Inquiry by logging
on to
www.hundredsandthousands.org.uk
and sharing their childhood memories. |
LIVERPOOL STUDENT NAMED UK’S TOP UNIPRENEUR
A Liverpool
student who founded a company that produced a computer program which
enabled people with colour-blindness to see colours that they would
normally miss has made his business Ł20,000 richer after winning the
first Unipreneurs Awards, designed to recognise Britain’s
brightest young men and women who are combining their studies with
running a successful business.
Luke Walsh, 25, along with fellow student and colleague Luke
Jefferson, was voted the UK’s No.1 Unipreneur by a specially invited
audience of 200 guests, at the BAFTA Theatre in London. Walsh
and Jefferson beat 4 other contenders to walk away with the cash
after being grilled live on-stage by a celebrity panel of experts
who decided that their company had the vital X-factor for future
success.
The government-backed Awards, presented
in association with the National Council for Graduate
Entrepreneurship (NCGE), follows a recent study that suggests there
could be as many as 80,000 students running a campus-born business,
with some already on the way to their first million.
When computer science student Luke Jefferson took a holiday
internship working as a programmer for a graphic design company, he
made an interesting discovery. Computers, he realised,
completely failed to take into account the problems of people with
impaired colour vision, or colour ‘blindness’.
Restarting his PhD to allow him to work on the necessary technology,
he developed a software application that allows colour blind people
to adapt their computer displays to suit their various needs,
enabling them to access colour coded data, graphics and charts.
Now finalising work on his thesis, Luke has joined forces with a new
partner, Luke Walsh, and is developing 2 new innovative business
initiatives that will include making his colour blind accessibility
software available online.
Ian Robertson, Chief Executive of the Government-backed NCGE added:-
“This generation of ‘Unipreneurs’ are using their hard
earned educations to start-up credible businesses and make them real
contenders in competitive markets. Walsh and Jefferson’s
determination and enthusiasm make them deserving winners of the top
title.”
Pioneering sight loss service set for Liverpool
ACTION for Blind
People’s pioneering mobile Sight Loss Information Service packed
with the latest aids, equipment and specialist advice for blind and
partially sighted people will be visiting Warrington and Southport
in May at the kind invitation of Action for Blind People Merseyside
Team.
The mobile Sight Loss Information Service, run by national charity
Action for Blind People, will open its doors to people interested in
or affected by visual impairment. Staffed by a friendly and
knowledgeable team, the mobile carries the latest technology and
gadgets to improve daily life. From vibrating bank note detectors to
talking microwaves and tin lids, staff on the unit offer impartial,
practical advice and support.
Robert Harris from Action for Blind People’s Sight Loss Information
Service said:- "Everybody is welcome to come along to visit us
on the mobile. Whether you are visually impaired or know somebody
who may be having problems with their sight, please pay us a visit
and pick up information or ask us questions. Visitors can try out a
wide range of daily living aids or the latest computer and
magnification technology.”
The Mobile Itinerary:-
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 - between 10am and 4pm
on
Horsemarket Street,
Warrington
Thursday, 22 May 2008 – between 10am and 4pm on,
Southport Town Hall Gardens,
Lord Street,
Southport
Friday, 23 May 2008 – between 10am and 4pm,
Horsemarket Street,
Warrington
If you are unable to visit the Sight Loss Information Service but
have a query please ring Action for Blind People’s National
Freephone Helpline on 0800 915 4666 and they will be pleased to
help. |
