The New Dark Age

It’s shocking but true: mental distress among young people has never been higher. Almost half of all young people now report that they face mental health problems.

Precarious jobs and housing, climate anxiety, a traumatising and privatised school system, and social media platforms which push anxiety-inducing content are all driving this crisis. Corporate business decisions are creating a world which for many people, especially young people, is brutal.

At the same time, mental healthcare provision has been stripped to the bone and is failing again and again. The services that children, teenagers and young adults desperately need are not there, leaving young people and parents struggling to survive.

I know first-hand how bad the situation is. My daughter was diagnosed with anorexia at thirteen, and nothing could have prepared us for the nightmare that followed. She struggled to receive adequate support until things were absolutely critical and was eventually sectioned in an in-patient facility far away from our home.

This was the first of three times she would be sectioned. Her experiences in these in-patient facilities were dreadful and she still struggles to talk about it. You can read more about our family’s story here.

It’s clear that change is urgently needed. So in 2024 Just Treatment will be organising with those at the frontline of the youth mental health crisis, and I’m so excited to be part of this work.

As a patient leader, I’ll be using my knowledge and experience to help steer this vital campaign. We’re going to be growing our patient leader group in the new year, working with more young people and adults who are directly affected by mental distress and lack of provision.

So if you have your own experience of mental health distress, or perhaps your child has, we’d love to hear from you about your story. Just reply to this email to get in touch.

By bringing together young people and their families we know our proven model of giving leadership to those directly affected can win real change in our health system. So look out for more updates and ways to get involved throughout 2024 as our youth mental health campaign grows from strength to strength.

Thanks so much,

Michael
Just Treatment Patient Leader

Just Treatment is fighting to put patients and the NHS before profit. We’ll never take a penny from corporate interests – that’s why we’re relying on your support.